Norfolk, VA vs Alexandria, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Alexandria, VA and Norfolk, VA spend within 14.0% of each other per resident — $57,994 versus $50,880 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Alexandria, VA edges Norfolk, VA on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 53/100 (grade C) to 46/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Alexandria, VA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Norfolk, VA carries $1,370 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Norfolk, VA at $19,019 per resident and in Alexandria, VA at $22,295.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Norfolk, VA and 120% in Alexandria, VA.
Summary
Alexandria spends 12.3% more per capita than Norfolk ($7,114/person difference). Alexandria, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $97 | $38 |
| Sales Tax | $1,289 | $729 |
| Income Tax | $896 | $603 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,946 | $15,384 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,679 | $0 |
| Other | $3,596 | $6,522 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,718 | $1,312 |
| Fire Protection | $832 | $848 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,186 | $675 |
| Education | $19,019 | $22,295 |
| Public Welfare | $1,311 | $1,976 |
| Health | $519 | $541 |
| Hospitals | $5,390 | $3,274 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,601 | $2,244 |
| Housing | $3,939 | $4,894 |
| Sewerage | $96 | $615 |
| Utilities | $5,495 | $4,795 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,752 |
| Other | $9,773 | $12,773 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.