Memphis, TN vs Johnson City, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Johnson City, TN spends 34% more per resident than Memphis, TN: $29,659 against $22,111. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 23/100 (grade F) for Johnson City, TN — a 42-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $1,609 for Johnson City, TN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while Johnson City, TN leads with education at $14,043.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 100% in Johnson City, TN.
Summary
Johnson City spends 25.4% more per capita than Memphis ($7,548/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $228 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $2,303 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $21,169 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $3,131 |
| Other | $3,994 | $3,770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $304 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $192 |
| Education | $0 | $14,043 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $2,007 |
| Health | $391 | $322 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $92 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,227 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $2,442 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $3,744 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $628 |
| Other | $8,850 | $4,657 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.