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

Phoenix, AZ vs Fresno, CA

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

Summary

Fresno spends 63.6% more per capita than Phoenix ($27,594/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Fresno, CA
Pop. 541,528
C
50/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
Fresno
Total Spending
$25.4B
$23.5B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$43,387
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$6.0B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$10,998
Total Debt
$1.9B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$0
Population
1,609,456
541,528
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Phoenix$0
Fresno$3,261
Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Fresno$568
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Fresno$0
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Fresno$76
Education
Phoenix$214
Fresno$3,942
Health
Phoenix$258
Fresno$599

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixFresno
Property Tax
$7
$337
Sales Tax
$338
$19
Income Tax
$1,260
$501
Intergovernmental
$50,709
-$4,470
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$11
Other
$2,038
$2,070

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixFresno
Police
$0
$3,261
Fire Protection
$170
$568
Highways & Roads
$86
$0
Education
$214
$3,942
Public Welfare
$507
$1,946
Health
$258
$599
Hospitals
$1,521
$0
Parks & Recreation
$652
$76
Housing
$3,879
$2,856
Sewerage
$388
$0
Utilities
$2,480
$15,340
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$255
Other
$3,878
$14,545
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health

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