Raleigh, NC vs Portland, OR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Portland, OR outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $23,675 versus $13,911, a 70% 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 63/100 (grade C) for Portland, OR — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $1,574 for Portland, OR. 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 Portland, OR at $2,477.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 47% of total revenue in Raleigh, NC and 19% in Portland, OR.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.