Raleigh, NC vs Atlanta, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $25,457 versus $13,911, a 83% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 76/100 (grade B) for Raleigh, NC — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Raleigh, NC carries $906 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Raleigh, NC at $1,391 per resident and in Atlanta, GA at $1,274.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 47% of total revenue in Raleigh, NC and 6% in Atlanta, GA.
Summary
Atlanta spends 45.4% more per capita than Raleigh ($11,546/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $419 |
| Sales Tax | $858 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $806 | $1,292 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,128 | $9,121 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,681 | $5,645 |
| Other | $4,740 | $5,461 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $315 |
| Fire Protection | $277 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $448 | $513 |
| Education | $6 | $25 |
| Public Welfare | $498 | $1,587 |
| Hospitals | $669 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,391 | $1,274 |
| Housing | $2,712 | $4,594 |
| Sewerage | $281 | $343 |
| Utilities | $2,469 | $8,026 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,513 | $0 |
| Other | $3,646 | $8,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.