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

Milwaukee, WI vs San Francisco, CA

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

Summary

San Francisco spends 89.5% more per capita than Milwaukee ($164,714/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50
City B
San Francisco, CA
Pop. 851,036
D
48/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Milwaukee
San Francisco
Total Spending
$11.1B
$156.7B
Spending / Capita
$19,417
$184,131
Total Revenue
$6.3B
$232.3B
Revenue / Capita
$11,027
$272,907
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,031
Population
573,299
851,036
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Milwaukee$3,642
San Francisco$3,351
Fire Protection
Milwaukee$802
San Francisco$2,281
Highways & Roads
Milwaukee$23
San Francisco$0
Parks & Recreation
Milwaukee$2,206
San Francisco$4,119
Health
Milwaukee$1
San Francisco$1,911

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeSan Francisco
Property Tax
$0
$148
Sales Tax
$6,548
$3,028
Income Tax
$1
$269
Intergovernmental
$1,231
$19,762
Charges & Fees
$0
$7,961
Other
$3,984
$18,918

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeSan Francisco
Police
$3,642
$3,351
Fire Protection
$802
$2,281
Highways & Roads
$23
$0
Public Welfare
$180
$2,203
Health
$1
$1,911
Hospitals
$0
$6,939
Parks & Recreation
$2,206
$4,119
Housing
$1,071
$9,315
Sewerage
$0
$1,423
Utilities
$1,866
$21,190
Interest on Debt
$1,608
$22,798
General Admin
$0
$14,899
Other
$8,018
$93,702
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health
D
San Francisco, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health

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