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

Raleigh, NC vs Portland, OR

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

Summary

Portland spends 41.2% more per capita than Raleigh ($9,764/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Raleigh, NC
Pop. 465,517
B
76/100
Budget Balance82
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity67
Trend Direction50
City B
Portland, OR
Pop. 646,101
C
63/100
Budget Balance83
Debt Burden7
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency72
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Raleigh
Portland
Total Spending
$6.5B
$15.3B
Spending / Capita
$13,911
$23,675
Total Revenue
$13.9B
$31.0B
Revenue / Capita
$29,940
$47,970
Total Debt
$421.6M
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$906
$1,574
Population
465,517
646,101
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Raleigh$277
Portland$1,700
Highways & Roads
Raleigh$448
Portland$139
Parks & Recreation
Raleigh$1,391
Portland$2,477
Education
Raleigh$6
Portland$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighPortland
Sales Tax
$858
$1,695
Income Tax
$806
$130
Intergovernmental
$14,128
$8,979
Charges & Fees
$2,681
$3,883
Other
$4,740
$7,916

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighPortland
Fire Protection
$277
$1,700
Highways & Roads
$448
$139
Education
$6
$0
Public Welfare
$498
$3,607
Hospitals
$669
$2,893
Parks & Recreation
$1,391
$2,477
Housing
$2,712
$3,694
Sewerage
$281
$630
Utilities
$2,469
$1,845
Interest on Debt
$1,513
$0
Other
$3,646
$6,689
B
Raleigh, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 76/100
Good fiscal health
C
Portland, OR
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health

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