Phoenix, AZ vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Virginia Beach, VA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $42,515 versus $15,793, a 169% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 100% in Virginia Beach, VA.
Summary
Virginia Beach spends 62.9% more per capita than Phoenix ($26,722/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $673 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $831 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $31,808 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $1,462 |
| Other | $2,038 | $3,301 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,126 |
| Fire Protection | $170 | $512 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $0 |
| Education | $214 | $21,342 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $2,071 |
| Health | $258 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $1,036 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $1,574 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $2,788 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $140 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $3,523 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| Other | $3,878 | $7,978 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.