Oakland, CA vs Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN outspends Oakland, CA by a wide margin per resident — $48,948 versus $30,055, a 63% 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 47/100 (grade D) for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN — a 25-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Oakland, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN carries $2,292 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Oakland, CA leads with health at $1,016 per resident, while Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN leads with education at $21,061.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Oakland, CA and 10% in Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN.
Summary
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) spends 38.6% more per capita than Oakland ($18,893/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $522 | $373 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $135 |
| Intergovernmental | $42,277 | $13,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,444 |
| Other | $4,337 | $4,617 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,519 |
| Fire Protection | $1 | $468 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $11 |
| Education | $0 | $21,061 |
| Public Welfare | $2,426 | $738 |
| Health | $1,016 | $672 |
| Hospitals | $2,498 | $2,100 |
| Parks & Recreation | $955 | $1,015 |
| Housing | $7,811 | $4,231 |
| Sewerage | $1,417 | $217 |
| Utilities | $0 | $3,140 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,667 |
| General Admin | $0 | $2,081 |
| Other | $13,929 | $10,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.