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

Phoenix, AZ vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 93.5% more per capita than Phoenix ($227,548/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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
Washington
Total Spending
$25.4B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$243,341
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$277,701
Total Debt
$1.9B
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$2,516
Population
1,609,456
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Phoenix$0
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Washington$5,459
Education
Phoenix$214
Washington$53,224
Health
Phoenix$258
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixWashington
Property Tax
$7
$25
Sales Tax
$338
$991
Income Tax
$1,260
$141
Intergovernmental
$50,709
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$4,070
Other
$2,038
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixWashington
Police
$0
$4,183
Fire Protection
$170
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$86
$1,435
Education
$214
$53,224
Public Welfare
$507
$2,498
Health
$258
$1,009
Hospitals
$1,521
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$652
$5,459
Housing
$3,879
$10,296
Sewerage
$388
$2,881
Utilities
$2,480
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$58
General Admin
$0
$3,225
Other
$3,878
$48,155
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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