Omaha, NE vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH outspends Omaha, NE by a wide margin per resident — $18,858 versus $11,180, a 69% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Omaha, NE holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 38-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Omaha, NE reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbus, OH carries $1,145 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Omaha, NE at $742 per resident and in Columbus, OH at $2,168.
Summary
Columbus spends 40.7% more per capita than Omaha ($7,678/person difference). Omaha, NE has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $624 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $373 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,622 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,389 |
| Other | $4,672 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $319 | $224 |
| Public Welfare | $1,521 | $878 |
| Health | $456 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $742 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $3,045 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $1 |
| Utilities | $581 | $1,719 |
| Other | $4,516 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.