Reno, NV vs Carson, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Carson, NV outspends Reno, NV by a wide margin per resident — $24,832 versus $11,698, a 112% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Reno, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 66/100 (grade B) for Carson, NV — a 24-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Reno, NV leads with parks and recreation at $536 per resident, while Carson, NV leads with fire protection at $2,831.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 24% of total revenue in Reno, NV and 34% in Carson, NV.
Summary
Carson spends 52.9% more per capita than Reno ($13,134/person difference). Reno, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $195 | $225 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,610 | $953 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,983 |
| Other | $4,147 | $9,278 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,045 |
| Fire Protection | $110 | $2,831 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $337 |
| Education | $0 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $930 | $2,268 |
| Health | $0 | $259 |
| Hospitals | $905 | $400 |
| Parks & Recreation | $536 | $1,900 |
| Housing | $3,888 | $4,279 |
| Sewerage | $498 | $470 |
| Utilities | $0 | $2,620 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $322 |
| Other | $4,830 | $8,079 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.