Phoenix, AZ vs Houston, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Phoenix, AZ and Houston, TX spend within 9.7% of each other per resident — $15,793 versus $14,400 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Houston, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Phoenix, AZ — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Houston, TX carries the lighter load at $863 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 Phoenix, AZ at $652 per resident and in Houston, TX at $361.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Phoenix, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Houston, TX relies most on other revenue at 7%.
Summary
Phoenix spends 9.7% more per capita than Houston ($1,393/person difference). Houston, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $181 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $39 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $33 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $3,475 |
| Other | $2,038 | $3,960 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $295 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $175 |
| Education | $214 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $533 |
| Health | $258 | $210 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $511 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $361 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $4,288 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $386 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $1,339 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| Other | $3,878 | $6,301 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.