Memphis, TN vs Mesa, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Mesa, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $12,768, a 73% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Mesa, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 25-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $469 for Mesa, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Memphis, TN at $1,397 per resident and in Mesa, AZ at $953.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Memphis, TN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Mesa, AZ relies most on charges and fees at 9%.
Summary
Memphis spends 73.2% more per capita than Mesa ($9,343/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $47 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $463 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $1,376 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $1,383 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $3,334 |
| Other | $3,994 | $2,253 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $422 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $192 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $829 |
| Health | $391 | $147 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $537 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $953 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $4,190 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $38 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $2,376 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $3,082 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.