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

Raleigh, NC vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 67.9% more per capita than Raleigh ($29,395/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
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Raleigh
San Diego
Total Spending
$6.5B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$13,911
$43,306
Total Revenue
$13.9B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$29,940
$9,662
Total Debt
$421.6M
$0
Debt / Capita
$906
$0
Population
465,517
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Raleigh$0
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Raleigh$277
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Raleigh$448
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Raleigh$1,391
San Diego$436
Education
Raleigh$6
San Diego$2,005
Health
Raleigh$0
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighSan Diego
Property Tax
$0
$124
Sales Tax
$858
$63
Income Tax
$806
$194
Intergovernmental
$14,128
$57
Charges & Fees
$2,681
$14
Other
$4,740
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighSan Diego
Police
$0
$3,335
Fire Protection
$277
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$448
$1,408
Education
$6
$2,005
Public Welfare
$498
$700
Health
$0
$411
Hospitals
$669
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,391
$436
Housing
$2,712
$4,476
Sewerage
$281
$43
Utilities
$2,469
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$1,513
$0
Other
$3,646
$17,509
B
Raleigh, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 76/100
Good fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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