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

Portsmouth, VA vs Richmond, VA

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

Summary

Richmond spends 24.3% more per capita than Portsmouth ($14,957/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
Richmond, VA
Pop. 227,171
D
45/100
Budget Balance58
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Portsmouth
Richmond
Total Spending
$4.5B
$14.0B
Spending / Capita
$46,704
$61,661
Total Revenue
$6.4B
$17.5B
Revenue / Capita
$66,060
$77,122
Total Debt
$0
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,304
Population
97,384
227,171
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Portsmouth$1,848
Richmond$2,108
Fire Protection
Portsmouth$450
Richmond$921
Highways & Roads
Portsmouth$954
Richmond$738
Parks & Recreation
Portsmouth$1,573
Richmond$1,154
Education
Portsmouth$20,569
Richmond$20,033
Health
Portsmouth$270
Richmond$341

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortsmouthRichmond
Sales Tax
$291
$930
Income Tax
$2,119
$879
Intergovernmental
$12
$3,985
Charges & Fees
$2,606
$3,949
Other
$2,972
$7,690

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortsmouthRichmond
Police
$1,848
$2,108
Fire Protection
$450
$921
Highways & Roads
$954
$738
Education
$20,569
$20,033
Public Welfare
$1,406
$1,535
Health
$270
$341
Hospitals
$3,784
$3,770
Parks & Recreation
$1,573
$1,154
Housing
$3,282
$5,951
Sewerage
$298
$17
Utilities
$4,446
$7,265
Interest on Debt
$63
$3,048
Other
$7,760
$14,781
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
D
Richmond, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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