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

Oakland, CA vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Seattle spends 12.8% more per capita than Oakland ($4,408/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
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Oakland
Seattle
Total Spending
$13.2B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$30,055
$34,463
Total Revenue
$18.5B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$42,277
$76,958
Total Debt
$0
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,100
Population
437,825
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Oakland$1
Seattle$210
Parks & Recreation
Oakland$955
Seattle$3,923
Education
Oakland$0
Seattle$1,461
Health
Oakland$1,016
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandSeattle
Property Tax
$0
$1,831
Sales Tax
$522
$1,094
Income Tax
$0
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$42,277
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$0
$3,960
Other
$4,337
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandSeattle
Fire Protection
$1
$210
Education
$0
$1,461
Public Welfare
$2,426
$3,439
Health
$1,016
$1,131
Hospitals
$2,498
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$955
$3,923
Housing
$7,811
$3,727
Sewerage
$1,417
$952
Utilities
$0
$6,489
Other
$13,929
$11,260
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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