Phoenix, AZ vs Scottsdale, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Phoenix, AZ outspends Scottsdale, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $15,793 versus $21, a 73548% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Scottsdale, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Phoenix, AZ — a 23-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Scottsdale, AZ carries the lighter load at $2 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Phoenix, AZ at $652 per resident and in Scottsdale, AZ at $2.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Phoenix, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Scottsdale, AZ relies most on charges and fees at 13%.
Summary
Phoenix spends 73548.2% more per capita than Scottsdale ($15,771/person difference). Scottsdale, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $1 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $4 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $5 |
| Other | $2,038 | $4 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $0 |
| Education | $214 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $1 |
| Health | $258 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $2 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $5 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $4 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| Other | $3,878 | $8 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.