Raleigh, NC vs Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $48,948 versus $13,911, a 252% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN — a 29-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $2,292 for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Raleigh, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,391 per resident, while Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN leads with education at $21,061.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 47% of total revenue in Raleigh, NC and 10% in Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN.
Summary
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) spends 71.6% more per capita than Raleigh ($35,037/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)
| Sales Tax | $858 | $373 |
| Income Tax | $806 | $135 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,128 | $13,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,681 | $2,444 |
| Other | $4,740 | $4,617 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,519 |
| Fire Protection | $277 | $468 |
| Highways & Roads | $448 | $11 |
| Education | $6 | $21,061 |
| Public Welfare | $498 | $738 |
| Health | $0 | $672 |
| Hospitals | $669 | $2,100 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,391 | $1,015 |
| Housing | $2,712 | $4,231 |
| Sewerage | $281 | $217 |
| Utilities | $2,469 | $3,140 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,513 | $1,667 |
| General Admin | $0 | $2,081 |
| Other | $3,646 | $10,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.