Phoenix, AZ vs Baltimore, MD
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Baltimore, MD outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $67,935 versus $15,793, a 330% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Baltimore, MD edges Phoenix, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 70/100 (grade B) to 67/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Baltimore, MD reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while Baltimore, MD leads with education at $35,510.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 7% in Baltimore, MD.
Summary
Baltimore spends 76.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($52,142/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $84 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $55 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $375 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $5,085 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $2,192 |
| Other | $2,038 | $4,765 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $820 |
| Fire Protection | $170 | $1,214 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $676 |
| Education | $214 | $35,510 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $714 |
| Health | $258 | $757 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $1,877 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $384 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $4,087 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $87 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $3,809 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| General Admin | $0 | $19 |
| Other | $3,878 | $17,981 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.