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

Mesa, AZ vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 94.8% more per capita than Mesa ($230,573/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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Mesa
Washington
Total Spending
$6.4B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$12,768
$243,341
Total Revenue
$18.0B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$35,688
$277,701
Total Debt
$236.3M
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$469
$2,516
Population
503,390
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Mesa$0
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
Mesa$422
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
Mesa$192
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
Mesa$953
Washington$5,459
Education
Mesa$0
Washington$53,224
Health
Mesa$147
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MesaWashington
Property Tax
$47
$25
Sales Tax
$463
$991
Income Tax
$1,376
$141
Intergovernmental
$1,383
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$3,334
$4,070
Other
$2,253
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MesaWashington
Police
$0
$4,183
Fire Protection
$422
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$192
$1,435
Education
$0
$53,224
Public Welfare
$829
$2,498
Health
$147
$1,009
Hospitals
$537
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$953
$5,459
Housing
$4,190
$10,296
Sewerage
$38
$2,881
Utilities
$2,376
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$0
$58
General Admin
$0
$3,225
Other
$3,082
$48,155
A
Mesa, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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