Phoenix, AZ vs New York, NY
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
New York, NY outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $129,119 versus $15,793, a 718% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ edges New York, NY on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 67/100 (grade B) to 64/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, New York, NY carries the lighter load at $462 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while New York, NY leads with education at $37,892.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 14% in New York, NY.
Summary
New York spends 87.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($113,327/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 | $5 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $399 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $19 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $20,520 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $1,835 |
| Other | $2,038 | $3,593 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,512 |
| Fire Protection | $170 | $11,050 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $221 |
| Education | $214 | $37,892 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $1,116 |
| Health | $258 | $417 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $6,467 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $868 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $7,137 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $315 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $13,371 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $11,706 |
| General Admin | $0 | $11,668 |
| Other | $3,878 | $25,380 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.