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

Phoenix, AZ vs Portland, OR

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

Summary

Portland spends 33.3% more per capita than Phoenix ($7,882/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
Portland, OR
Pop. 646,101
C
63/100
Budget Balance83
Debt Burden7
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency72
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
Portland
Total Spending
$25.4B
$15.3B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$23,675
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$31.0B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$47,970
Total Debt
$1.9B
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$1,574
Population
1,609,456
646,101
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Portland$1,700
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Portland$139
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Portland$2,477
Education
Phoenix$214
Portland$0
Health
Phoenix$258
Portland$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixPortland
Property Tax
$7
$0
Sales Tax
$338
$1,695
Income Tax
$1,260
$130
Intergovernmental
$50,709
$8,979
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$3,883
Other
$2,038
$7,916

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixPortland
Fire Protection
$170
$1,700
Highways & Roads
$86
$139
Education
$214
$0
Public Welfare
$507
$3,607
Health
$258
$0
Hospitals
$1,521
$2,893
Parks & Recreation
$652
$2,477
Housing
$3,879
$3,694
Sewerage
$388
$630
Utilities
$2,480
$1,845
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$0
Other
$3,878
$6,689
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
C
Portland, OR
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health

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