Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN vs Dallas, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN spends 40% more per resident than Dallas, TX: $48,948 against $34,849. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Dallas, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 57/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Dallas, TX reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN carries $2,292 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN leads with education at $21,061 per resident, while Dallas, TX leads with police at $1,519.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 10% of total revenue in Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN and 22% in Dallas, TX.
Summary
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) spends 40.5% more per capita than Dallas ($14,099/person difference). Dallas, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $9 |
| Sales Tax | $373 | $25 |
| Income Tax | $135 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $13,787 | $1,223 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,444 | $0 |
| Other | $4,617 | $584 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,519 | $1,519 |
| Fire Protection | $468 | $305 |
| Highways & Roads | $11 | $201 |
| Education | $21,061 | $62 |
| Public Welfare | $738 | $215 |
| Health | $672 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,100 | $385 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,015 | $0 |
| Housing | $4,231 | $444 |
| Sewerage | $217 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,140 | $833 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,667 | $0 |
| General Admin | $2,081 | $25,827 |
| Other | $10,028 | $5,059 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.