Phoenix, AZ vs Oakland, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Oakland, CA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $30,055 versus $15,793, a 90% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Oakland, CA edges Phoenix, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 72/100 (grade B) to 67/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Oakland, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while Oakland, CA leads with health at $1,016.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 100% in Oakland, CA.
Summary
Oakland spends 47.5% more per capita than Phoenix ($14,262/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $522 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $42,277 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $0 |
| Other | $2,038 | $4,337 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $1 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $0 |
| Education | $214 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $2,426 |
| Health | $258 | $1,016 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $2,498 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $955 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $7,811 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $1,417 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $0 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| Other | $3,878 | $13,929 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.