Memphis, TN vs Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Indianapolis city (balance), IN outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $46,045 versus $22,111, a 108% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Indianapolis city (balance), IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 74/100 (grade B) against 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $577 for Indianapolis city (balance), IN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while Indianapolis city (balance), IN leads with police at $2,032.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Memphis, TN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Indianapolis city (balance), IN relies most on other revenue at 6%.