Phoenix, AZ vs Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $48,948 versus $15,793, a 210% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 per resident versus $2,292 for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN leads with education at $21,061.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 10% in Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN.
Summary
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) spends 67.7% more per capita than Phoenix ($33,155/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 | $373 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $135 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $13,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $2,444 |
| Other | $2,038 | $4,617 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,519 |
| Fire Protection | $170 | $468 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $11 |
| Education | $214 | $21,061 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $738 |
| Health | $258 | $672 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $2,100 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $1,015 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $4,231 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $217 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $3,140 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $1,667 |
| General Admin | $0 | $2,081 |
| Other | $3,878 | $10,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.