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

Raleigh, NC vs Virginia Beach, VA

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

Summary

Virginia Beach spends 67.3% more per capita than Raleigh ($28,604/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
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Raleigh
Virginia Beach
Total Spending
$6.5B
$19.5B
Spending / Capita
$13,911
$42,515
Total Revenue
$13.9B
$14.6B
Revenue / Capita
$29,940
$31,808
Total Debt
$421.6M
$135.8M
Debt / Capita
$906
$297
Population
465,517
457,900
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Raleigh$0
Virginia Beach$1,126
Fire Protection
Raleigh$277
Virginia Beach$512
Highways & Roads
Raleigh$448
Virginia Beach$0
Parks & Recreation
Raleigh$1,391
Virginia Beach$1,574
Education
Raleigh$6
Virginia Beach$21,342
Health
Raleigh$0
Virginia Beach$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighVirginia Beach
Sales Tax
$858
$673
Income Tax
$806
$831
Intergovernmental
$14,128
$31,808
Charges & Fees
$2,681
$1,462
Other
$4,740
$3,301

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighVirginia Beach
Police
$0
$1,126
Fire Protection
$277
$512
Highways & Roads
$448
$0
Education
$6
$21,342
Public Welfare
$498
$2,071
Health
$0
$426
Hospitals
$669
$1,036
Parks & Recreation
$1,391
$1,574
Housing
$2,712
$2,788
Sewerage
$281
$140
Utilities
$2,469
$3,523
Interest on Debt
$1,513
$0
Other
$3,646
$7,978
B
Raleigh, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 76/100
Good fiscal health
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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