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

Phoenix, AZ vs San Jose, CA

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

Summary

San Jose spends 11.9% more per capita than Phoenix ($2,142/person difference). San Jose, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).

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
San Jose, CA
Pop. 1,001,176
A
90/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency98
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
San Jose
Total Spending
$25.4B
$18.0B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$17,934
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$38.1B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$38,091
Total Debt
$1.9B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$0
Population
1,609,456
1,001,176
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
San Jose$0
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
San Jose$0
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
San Jose$1,424
Education
Phoenix$214
San Jose$0
Health
Phoenix$258
San Jose$609

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixSan Jose
Property Tax
$7
$40
Sales Tax
$338
$315
Income Tax
$1,260
$1,935
Intergovernmental
$50,709
$2,680
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$608
Other
$2,038
$3,519

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixSan Jose
Fire Protection
$170
$0
Highways & Roads
$86
$0
Education
$214
$0
Public Welfare
$507
$810
Health
$258
$609
Hospitals
$1,521
$1,254
Parks & Recreation
$652
$1,424
Housing
$3,879
$4,897
Sewerage
$388
$161
Utilities
$2,480
$2,533
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$0
Other
$3,878
$6,247
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
A
San Jose, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health

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