Peoria, AZ vs Tucson, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tucson, AZ and Peoria, AZ spend within 1.5% of each other per resident — $15,759 versus $15,527 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Peoria, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 64/100 (grade C) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Peoria, AZ carries the lighter load at $903 per resident versus $1,540 for Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ at $1,229.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Peoria, AZ at 16% of total revenue, whereas Tucson, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Tucson spends 1.5% more per capita than Peoria ($232/person difference). Peoria, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 64/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $17 | $5 |
| Sales Tax | $89 | $309 |
| Income Tax | $898 | $1,107 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,658 | $23,276 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,823 | $4,534 |
| Other | $1,828 | $952 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $598 | $330 |
| Public Welfare | $1,297 | $1,181 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $1,314 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,012 | $1,229 |
| Housing | $3,363 | $3,091 |
| Sewerage | $289 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,475 | $3,555 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,735 |
| Other | $4,494 | $3,322 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.