Oklahoma City, OK vs Tucson, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Oklahoma City, OK and Tucson, AZ spend within 14.7% of each other per resident — $18,074 versus $15,759 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Oklahoma City, OK holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Tucson, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,540 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 Oklahoma City, OK at $2,014 per resident and in Tucson, AZ at $1,229.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 19% of total revenue in Oklahoma City, OK and 100% in Tucson, AZ.
Summary
Oklahoma City spends 14.7% more per capita than Tucson ($2,315/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)
| Property Tax | $0 | $5 |
| Sales Tax | $763 | $309 |
| Income Tax | $1,037 | $1,107 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,852 | $23,276 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,256 | $4,534 |
| Other | $1,836 | $952 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $513 | $330 |
| Public Welfare | $1,525 | $1,181 |
| Health | $5 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,044 | $1,314 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,014 | $1,229 |
| Housing | $2,857 | $3,091 |
| Utilities | $4,523 | $3,555 |
| Interest on Debt | $707 | $1,735 |
| Other | $3,886 | $3,322 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.