New York, NY vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
New York, NY outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $129,119 versus $22,111, a 484% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN edges New York, NY on the Fiscal Health Score by 1 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 64/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $462 for New York, NY. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: New York, NY leads with education at $37,892 per resident, while Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 14% of total revenue in New York, NY and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
New York spends 484.0% more per capita than Memphis ($107,009/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $399 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $19 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,520 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,835 | $2,077 |
| Other | $3,593 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,512 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $11,050 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $221 | $277 |
| Education | $37,892 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,116 | $630 |
| Health | $417 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $6,467 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $868 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $7,137 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $315 | $0 |
| Utilities | $13,371 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $11,706 | $1,158 |
| General Admin | $11,668 | $0 |
| Other | $25,380 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.