Portsmouth, VA vs Norfolk, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Norfolk, VA and Portsmouth, VA spend within 8.9% of each other per resident — $50,880 versus $46,704 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Portsmouth, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 46/100 (grade D) for Norfolk, VA — a 29-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Portsmouth, VA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Norfolk, VA carries $1,370 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Portsmouth, VA at $20,569 per resident and in Norfolk, VA at $19,019.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Portsmouth, VA at 4% of total revenue, whereas Norfolk, VA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 7%.
Summary
Norfolk spends 8.2% more per capita than Portsmouth ($4,175/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $97 |
| Sales Tax | $291 | $1,289 |
| Income Tax | $2,119 | $896 |
| Intergovernmental | $12 | $4,946 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,606 | $4,679 |
| Other | $2,972 | $3,596 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,848 | $1,718 |
| Fire Protection | $450 | $832 |
| Highways & Roads | $954 | $1,186 |
| Education | $20,569 | $19,019 |
| Public Welfare | $1,406 | $1,311 |
| Health | $270 | $519 |
| Hospitals | $3,784 | $5,390 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,573 | $1,601 |
| Housing | $3,282 | $3,939 |
| Sewerage | $298 | $96 |
| Utilities | $4,446 | $5,495 |
| Interest on Debt | $63 | $0 |
| Other | $7,760 | $9,773 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.