Raleigh, NC vs Mesa, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Raleigh, NC and Mesa, AZ spend within 9.0% of each other per resident — $13,911 versus $12,768 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Mesa, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 76/100 (grade B) for Raleigh, NC — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Mesa, AZ carries the lighter load at $469 per resident versus $906 for Raleigh, 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 Mesa, AZ at $953.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Raleigh, NC at 47% of total revenue, whereas Mesa, AZ relies most on charges and fees at 9%.
Summary
Raleigh spends 9.0% more per capita than Mesa ($1,143/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $47 |
| Sales Tax | $858 | $463 |
| Income Tax | $806 | $1,376 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,128 | $1,383 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,681 | $3,334 |
| Other | $4,740 | $2,253 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $277 | $422 |
| Highways & Roads | $448 | $192 |
| Education | $6 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $498 | $829 |
| Health | $0 | $147 |
| Hospitals | $669 | $537 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,391 | $953 |
| Housing | $2,712 | $4,190 |
| Sewerage | $281 | $38 |
| Utilities | $2,469 | $2,376 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,513 | $0 |
| Other | $3,646 | $3,082 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.