Memphis, TN vs Fresno, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Fresno, CA outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $43,387 versus $22,111, a 96% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 50/100 (grade C) for Fresno, CA — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Fresno, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while Fresno, CA leads with education at $3,942.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Memphis, TN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Fresno, CA relies most on other revenue at 19%.
Summary
Fresno spends 49.0% more per capita than Memphis ($21,276/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $337 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $19 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $501 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | -$4,470 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $11 |
| Other | $3,994 | $2,070 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $3,261 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $568 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $3,942 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $1,946 |
| Health | $391 | $599 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $76 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $2,856 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $15,340 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $255 |
| Other | $8,850 | $14,545 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.