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

Norfolk, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA

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

Summary

Norfolk spends 19.7% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($8,364/person difference). Virginia Beach, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Norfolk, VA
Pop. 236,973
D
46/100
Budget Balance62
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Norfolk
Virginia Beach
Total Spending
$12.1B
$19.5B
Spending / Capita
$50,880
$42,515
Total Revenue
$17.4B
$14.6B
Revenue / Capita
$73,324
$31,808
Total Debt
$324.7M
$135.8M
Debt / Capita
$1,370
$297
Population
236,973
457,900
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Norfolk$1,718
Virginia Beach$1,126
Fire Protection
Norfolk$832
Virginia Beach$512
Highways & Roads
Norfolk$1,186
Virginia Beach$0
Parks & Recreation
Norfolk$1,601
Virginia Beach$1,574
Education
Norfolk$19,019
Virginia Beach$21,342
Health
Norfolk$519
Virginia Beach$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

NorfolkVirginia Beach
Property Tax
$97
$0
Sales Tax
$1,289
$673
Income Tax
$896
$831
Intergovernmental
$4,946
$31,808
Charges & Fees
$4,679
$1,462
Other
$3,596
$3,301

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

NorfolkVirginia Beach
Police
$1,718
$1,126
Fire Protection
$832
$512
Highways & Roads
$1,186
$0
Education
$19,019
$21,342
Public Welfare
$1,311
$2,071
Health
$519
$426
Hospitals
$5,390
$1,036
Parks & Recreation
$1,601
$1,574
Housing
$3,939
$2,788
Sewerage
$96
$140
Utilities
$5,495
$3,523
Other
$9,773
$7,978
D
Norfolk, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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