Memphis, TN vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Virginia Beach, VA outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $42,515 versus $22,111, a 92% 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 Virginia Beach, VA — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $303 for Memphis, 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 Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 100% in Virginia Beach, VA.
Summary
Virginia Beach spends 48.0% more per capita than Memphis ($20,404/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 | $673 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $831 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $31,808 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $1,462 |
| Other | $3,994 | $3,301 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,126 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $512 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $21,342 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $2,071 |
| Health | $391 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $1,036 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,574 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $2,788 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $140 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $3,523 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $7,978 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.