Mesa, AZ vs Surprise, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Surprise, AZ and Mesa, AZ spend within 13.1% of each other per resident — $14,436 versus $12,768 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Mesa, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 59/100 (grade C) for Surprise, AZ — a 31-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Surprise, AZ carries the lighter load at $309 per resident versus $469 for Mesa, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Mesa, AZ at $953 per resident and in Surprise, AZ at $2,032.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Mesa, AZ at 9% of total revenue, whereas Surprise, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Surprise spends 11.6% more per capita than Mesa ($1,668/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $47 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $463 | $100 |
| Income Tax | $1,376 | $673 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,383 | $3,454 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,334 | $1,036 |
| Other | $2,253 | $2,972 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $422 | $870 |
| Highways & Roads | $192 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $829 | $2,361 |
| Health | $147 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $537 | $1,200 |
| Parks & Recreation | $953 | $2,032 |
| Housing | $4,190 | $2,769 |
| Sewerage | $38 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,376 | $1,764 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $38 |
| Other | $3,082 | $3,403 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.