Phoenix, AZ vs Charlotte, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Charlotte, NC and Phoenix, AZ spend within 0.4% of each other per resident — $15,854 versus $15,793 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Phoenix, AZ edges Charlotte, NC on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 67/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 per resident versus $2,690 for Charlotte, NC. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Phoenix, AZ at $652 per resident and in Charlotte, NC at $1,571.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Phoenix, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Charlotte, NC relies most on other revenue at 10%.
Summary
Charlotte spends 0.4% more per capita than Phoenix ($61/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 | $7 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $541 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $366 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $1,859 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $2,459 |
| Other | $2,038 | $4,866 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $463 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $41 |
| Education | $214 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $672 |
| Health | $258 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $1,243 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $1,571 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $3,944 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $2,244 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $2,226 |
| Other | $3,878 | $3,448 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.