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

Raleigh, NC vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Seattle spends 59.6% more per capita than Raleigh ($20,552/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
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Raleigh
Seattle
Total Spending
$6.5B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$13,911
$34,463
Total Revenue
$13.9B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$29,940
$76,958
Total Debt
$421.6M
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$906
$1,100
Population
465,517
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Raleigh$277
Seattle$210
Highways & Roads
Raleigh$448
Seattle$0
Parks & Recreation
Raleigh$1,391
Seattle$3,923
Education
Raleigh$6
Seattle$1,461
Health
Raleigh$0
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighSeattle
Property Tax
$0
$1,831
Sales Tax
$858
$1,094
Income Tax
$806
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$14,128
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$2,681
$3,960
Other
$4,740
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighSeattle
Fire Protection
$277
$210
Highways & Roads
$448
$0
Education
$6
$1,461
Public Welfare
$498
$3,439
Health
$0
$1,131
Hospitals
$669
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$1,391
$3,923
Housing
$2,712
$3,727
Sewerage
$281
$952
Utilities
$2,469
$6,489
Interest on Debt
$1,513
$0
Other
$3,646
$11,260
B
Raleigh, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 76/100
Good fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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