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

Oakland, CA vs Fort Worth, TX

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Oakland, CA outspends Fort Worth, TX by a wide margin per resident — $30,055 versus $15,939, a 89% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Oakland, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 72/100 (grade B) against 63/100 (grade C) for Fort Worth, TX — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Oakland, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Fort Worth, TX carries $1,921 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Oakland, CA leads with health at $1,016 per resident, while Fort Worth, TX leads with parks and recreation at $708.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Oakland, CA and 15% in Fort Worth, TX.

Summary

Oakland spends 88.6% more per capita than Fort Worth ($14,115/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Oakland, CA
Pop. 437,825
B
72/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency43
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Fort Worth, TX
Pop. 924,663
C
63/100
Budget Balance73
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Oakland
Fort Worth
Total Spending
$13.2B
$14.7B
Spending / Capita
$30,055
$15,939
Total Revenue
$18.5B
$24.7B
Revenue / Capita
$42,277
$26,694
Total Debt
$0
$1.8B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,921
Population
437,825
924,663
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Oakland$1
Fort Worth$156
Highways & Roads
Oakland$0
Fort Worth$317
Parks & Recreation
Oakland$955
Fort Worth$708
Health
Oakland$1,016
Fort Worth$235

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandFort Worth
Sales Tax
$522
$198
Income Tax
$0
$851
Intergovernmental
$42,277
$4,002
Charges & Fees
$0
$3,594
Other
$4,337
$3,439

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandFort Worth
Fire Protection
$1
$156
Highways & Roads
$0
$317
Public Welfare
$2,426
$869
Health
$1,016
$235
Hospitals
$2,498
$1,680
Parks & Recreation
$955
$708
Housing
$7,811
$4,217
Sewerage
$1,417
$267
Utilities
$0
$2,674
Other
$13,929
$4,817
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health
C
Fort Worth, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.