Raleigh, NC vs Tucson, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tucson, AZ and Raleigh, NC spend within 13.3% of each other per resident — $15,759 versus $13,911 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $1,540 for Tucson, AZ. 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 Tucson, AZ at $1,229.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 47% of total revenue in Raleigh, NC and 100% in Tucson, AZ.
Summary
Tucson spends 11.7% more per capita than Raleigh ($1,848/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)
| Property Tax | $0 | $5 |
| Sales Tax | $858 | $309 |
| Income Tax | $806 | $1,107 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,128 | $23,276 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,681 | $4,534 |
| Other | $4,740 | $952 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $277 | $330 |
| Highways & Roads | $448 | $0 |
| Education | $6 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $498 | $1,181 |
| Hospitals | $669 | $1,314 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,391 | $1,229 |
| Housing | $2,712 | $3,091 |
| Sewerage | $281 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,469 | $3,555 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,513 | $1,735 |
| Other | $3,646 | $3,322 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.