Raleigh, NC vs High Point, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
High Point, NC spends 15% more per resident than Raleigh, NC: $16,038 against $13,911. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for High Point, NC — a 25-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $1,152 for High Point, NC. 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 High Point, NC at $1,139.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 47% of total revenue in Raleigh, NC and 100% in High Point, NC.
Summary
High Point spends 13.3% more per capita than Raleigh ($2,127/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $27 |
| Sales Tax | $858 | $370 |
| Income Tax | $806 | $1,303 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,128 | $26,879 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,681 | $1,954 |
| Other | $4,740 | $3,948 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $277 | $74 |
| Highways & Roads | $448 | $180 |
| Education | $6 | $29 |
| Public Welfare | $498 | $1,075 |
| Health | $0 | $487 |
| Hospitals | $669 | $1,098 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,391 | $1,139 |
| Housing | $2,712 | $3,049 |
| Sewerage | $281 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,469 | $2,301 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,513 | $327 |
| Other | $3,646 | $6,278 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.