Memphis, TN vs Milwaukee, WI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN and Milwaukee, WI spend within 13.9% of each other per resident — $22,111 versus $19,417 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Memphis, TN edges Milwaukee, WI on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 62/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Milwaukee, WI 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 Milwaukee, WI leads with police at $3,642.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Memphis, TN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Milwaukee, WI relies most on sales tax at 59%.
Summary
Memphis spends 13.9% more per capita than Milwaukee ($2,694/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 | $6,548 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $1,231 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $0 |
| Other | $3,994 | $3,984 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $3,642 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $802 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $180 |
| Health | $391 | $1 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $2,206 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $1,071 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $1,866 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $1,608 |
| Other | $8,850 | $8,018 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.