Memphis, TN vs Washington, DC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Washington, DC outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $243,341 versus $22,111, a 1001% 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 41/100 (grade D) for Washington, DC — a 24-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $2,516 for Washington, DC. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while Washington, DC leads with education at $53,224.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 7% in Washington, DC.
Summary
Washington spends 90.9% more per capita than Memphis ($221,230/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 | $25 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $991 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $141 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $18,754 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $4,070 |
| Other | $3,994 | $11,518 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $4,183 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $4,262 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $1,435 |
| Education | $0 | $53,224 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $2,498 |
| Health | $391 | $1,009 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $17,668 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $5,459 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $10,296 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $2,881 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $88,990 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $58 |
| General Admin | $0 | $3,225 |
| Other | $8,850 | $48,155 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.