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

Portsmouth, VA vs Norfolk, VA

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

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

City A
Portsmouth, VA
Pop. 97,384
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Norfolk, VA
Pop. 236,973
D
46/100
Budget Balance62
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Portsmouth
Norfolk
Total Spending
$4.5B
$12.1B
Spending / Capita
$46,704
$50,880
Total Revenue
$6.4B
$17.4B
Revenue / Capita
$66,060
$73,324
Total Debt
$0
$324.7M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,370
Population
97,384
236,973
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Portsmouth$1,848
Norfolk$1,718
Fire Protection
Portsmouth$450
Norfolk$832
Highways & Roads
Portsmouth$954
Norfolk$1,186
Parks & Recreation
Portsmouth$1,573
Norfolk$1,601
Education
Portsmouth$20,569
Norfolk$19,019
Health
Portsmouth$270
Norfolk$519

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortsmouthNorfolk
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)

PortsmouthNorfolk
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
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
D
Norfolk, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health

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