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

Mesa, AZ vs Austin, TX

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

Summary

Austin spends 41.4% more per capita than Mesa ($9,004/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Mesa, AZ
Pop. 503,390
A
90/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Mesa
Austin
Total Spending
$6.4B
$20.9B
Spending / Capita
$12,768
$21,772
Total Revenue
$18.0B
$74.4B
Revenue / Capita
$35,688
$77,600
Total Debt
$236.3M
$1.2B
Debt / Capita
$469
$1,229
Population
503,390
958,202
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Mesa$422
Austin$634
Highways & Roads
Mesa$192
Austin$0
Parks & Recreation
Mesa$953
Austin$1,801
Education
Mesa$0
Austin$51
Health
Mesa$147
Austin$517

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MesaAustin
Property Tax
$47
$0
Sales Tax
$463
$526
Income Tax
$1,376
$1,465
Intergovernmental
$1,383
$14,031
Charges & Fees
$3,334
$3,247
Other
$2,253
$5,645

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MesaAustin
Fire Protection
$422
$634
Highways & Roads
$192
$0
Education
$0
$51
Public Welfare
$829
$1,837
Health
$147
$517
Hospitals
$537
$664
Parks & Recreation
$953
$1,801
Housing
$4,190
$3,741
Sewerage
$38
$865
Utilities
$2,376
$3,264
Other
$3,082
$8,399
A
Mesa, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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