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

Omaha, NE vs Memphis, TN

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Memphis, TN outspends Omaha, NE by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $11,180, a 98% 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 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 25-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Omaha, NE reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 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 Memphis, TN at $1,397.

They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Omaha, NE at 17% of total revenue, whereas Memphis, TN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.

Summary

Memphis spends 49.4% more per capita than Omaha ($10,931/person difference). Omaha, NE has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Omaha, NE
Pop. 489,201
A
90/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Omaha
Memphis
Total Spending
$5.5B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$11,180
$22,111
Total Revenue
$13.2B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$26,929
$34,065
Total Debt
$0
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$303
Population
489,201
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Omaha$0
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Omaha$319
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Omaha$742
Memphis$1,397
Health
Omaha$456
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

OmahaMemphis
Property Tax
$624
$10
Sales Tax
$373
$496
Income Tax
$0
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$2,622
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,077
Other
$4,672
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

OmahaMemphis
Fire Protection
$0
$469
Highways & Roads
$319
$277
Public Welfare
$1,521
$630
Health
$456
$391
Hospitals
$0
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$742
$1,397
Housing
$3,045
$4,683
Utilities
$581
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,158
Other
$4,516
$8,850
A
Omaha, NE
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

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