Peoria, AZ vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Phoenix, AZ and Peoria, AZ spend within 1.7% of each other per resident — $15,793 versus $15,527 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Phoenix, AZ edges Peoria, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 67/100 (grade B) to 64/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Peoria, AZ carries the lighter load at $903 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Peoria, AZ at $2,012 per resident and in Phoenix, AZ at $652.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Peoria, AZ at 16% of total revenue, whereas Phoenix, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Phoenix spends 1.7% more per capita than Peoria ($266/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $17 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $89 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $898 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,658 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,823 | $2,998 |
| Other | $1,828 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $598 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $1,297 | $507 |
| Health | $0 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,012 | $652 |
| Housing | $3,363 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $289 | $388 |
| Utilities | $3,475 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| Other | $4,494 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.