Richmond, VA vs Arlington, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Arlington, VA and Richmond, VA spend within 12.3% of each other per resident — $69,233 versus $61,661 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Arlington, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 45/100 (grade D) for Richmond, VA — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Arlington, VA carries the lighter load at $499 per resident versus $1,304 for Richmond, VA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Richmond, VA at $20,033 per resident and in Arlington, VA at $28,519.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 10% of total revenue in Richmond, VA and 7% in Arlington, VA.
Summary
Arlington spends 10.9% more per capita than Richmond ($7,572/person difference). Arlington, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $27 |
| Sales Tax | $930 | $554 |
| Income Tax | $879 | $466 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,985 | $4,733 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,949 | $2,576 |
| Other | $7,690 | $5,381 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,108 | $2,158 |
| Fire Protection | $921 | $694 |
| Highways & Roads | $738 | $780 |
| Education | $20,033 | $28,519 |
| Public Welfare | $1,535 | $3,283 |
| Health | $341 | $851 |
| Hospitals | $3,770 | $2,783 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,154 | $2,793 |
| Housing | $5,951 | $4,402 |
| Sewerage | $17 | $57 |
| Utilities | $7,265 | $9,221 |
| Interest on Debt | $3,048 | $0 |
| Other | $14,781 | $13,692 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.