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

Phoenix, AZ vs Surprise, AZ

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

Summary

Phoenix spends 9.4% more per capita than Surprise ($1,357/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
Surprise, AZ
Pop. 145,591
C
59/100
Budget Balance18
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
Surprise
Total Spending
$25.4B
$2.1B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$14,436
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$502.8M
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$3,454
Total Debt
$1.9B
$45.0M
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$309
Population
1,609,456
145,591
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Surprise$870
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Surprise$0
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Surprise$2,032
Education
Phoenix$214
Surprise$0
Health
Phoenix$258
Surprise$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixSurprise
Property Tax
$7
$0
Sales Tax
$338
$100
Income Tax
$1,260
$673
Intergovernmental
$50,709
$3,454
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$1,036
Other
$2,038
$2,972

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixSurprise
Fire Protection
$170
$870
Highways & Roads
$86
$0
Education
$214
$0
Public Welfare
$507
$2,361
Health
$258
$0
Hospitals
$1,521
$1,200
Parks & Recreation
$652
$2,032
Housing
$3,879
$2,769
Sewerage
$388
$0
Utilities
$2,480
$1,764
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$38
Other
$3,878
$3,403
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
C
Surprise, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health

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