Norman, OK vs Oklahoma City, OK
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Norman, OK outspends Oklahoma City, OK by a wide margin per resident — $55,648 versus $18,074, a 208% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Oklahoma City, OK holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 42/100 (grade D) for Norman, OK — a 23-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Norman, OK carries the lighter load at $781 per resident versus $3,520 for Oklahoma City, OK. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Norman, OK at $1,197 per resident and in Oklahoma City, OK at $2,014.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 8% of total revenue in Norman, OK and 19% in Oklahoma City, OK.
Summary
Norman spends 207.9% more per capita than Oklahoma City ($37,575/person difference). Oklahoma City, OK has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $383 | $763 |
| Income Tax | $2,695 | $1,037 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,093 | $6,852 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,061 | $3,256 |
| Other | $1,341 | $1,836 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $258 | $513 |
| Public Welfare | $2,391 | $1,525 |
| Health | $49 | $5 |
| Hospitals | $162 | $2,044 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,197 | $2,014 |
| Housing | $2,662 | $2,857 |
| Sewerage | $139 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,276 | $4,523 |
| Interest on Debt | $536 | $707 |
| General Admin | $42,647 | $0 |
| Other | $3,331 | $3,886 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.