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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Memphis, TN vs Raleigh, NC

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Memphis spends 58.9% more per capita than Raleigh ($8,200/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Raleigh, NC
Pop. 465,517
B
76/100
Budget Balance82
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity67
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Memphis
Raleigh
Total Spending
$13.9B
$6.5B
Spending / Capita
$22,111
$13,911
Total Revenue
$21.5B
$13.9B
Revenue / Capita
$34,065
$29,940
Total Debt
$191.2M
$421.6M
Debt / Capita
$303
$906
Population
630,027
465,517
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Memphis$469
Raleigh$277
Highways & Roads
Memphis$277
Raleigh$448
Parks & Recreation
Memphis$1,397
Raleigh$1,391
Education
Memphis$0
Raleigh$6
Health
Memphis$391
Raleigh$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MemphisRaleigh
Property Tax
$10
$0
Sales Tax
$496
$858
Income Tax
$1,218
$806
Intergovernmental
$34,065
$14,128
Charges & Fees
$2,077
$2,681
Other
$3,994
$4,740

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MemphisRaleigh
Fire Protection
$469
$277
Highways & Roads
$277
$448
Education
$0
$6
Public Welfare
$630
$498
Health
$391
$0
Hospitals
$1,677
$669
Parks & Recreation
$1,397
$1,391
Housing
$4,683
$2,712
Sewerage
$0
$281
Utilities
$2,578
$2,469
Interest on Debt
$1,158
$1,513
Other
$8,850
$3,646
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health
B
Raleigh, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 76/100
Good fiscal health

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