Memphis, TN vs Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $48,948 versus $22,111, a 121% 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 47/100 (grade D) for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $2,292 for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), 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 Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN leads with education at $21,061.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 10% in Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN.
Summary
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) spends 54.8% more per capita than Memphis ($26,837/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 | $373 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $135 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $13,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $2,444 |
| Other | $3,994 | $4,617 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,519 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $468 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $11 |
| Education | $0 | $21,061 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $738 |
| Health | $391 | $672 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $2,100 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,015 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $4,231 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $217 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $3,140 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $1,667 |
| General Admin | $0 | $2,081 |
| Other | $8,850 | $10,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.