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

Richmond, VA vs Chesapeake, VA

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

Summary

Richmond spends 34.5% more per capita than Chesapeake ($15,802/person difference). Richmond, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 45/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Richmond, VA
Pop. 227,171
D
45/100
Budget Balance58
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Richmond
Chesapeake
Total Spending
$14.0B
$11.4B
Spending / Capita
$61,661
$45,860
Total Revenue
$17.5B
$24.3M
Revenue / Capita
$77,122
$98
Total Debt
$296.3M
$170.5M
Debt / Capita
$1,304
$684
Population
227,171
249,377
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Richmond$2,108
Chesapeake$2,306
Fire Protection
Richmond$921
Chesapeake$755
Highways & Roads
Richmond$738
Chesapeake$413
Parks & Recreation
Richmond$1,154
Chesapeake$559
Education
Richmond$20,033
Chesapeake$25,005
Health
Richmond$341
Chesapeake$481

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RichmondChesapeake
Property Tax
$0
$12
Sales Tax
$930
$39
Income Tax
$879
$0
Intergovernmental
$3,985
$5
Charges & Fees
$3,949
$1,780
Other
$7,690
$3,671

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RichmondChesapeake
Police
$2,108
$2,306
Fire Protection
$921
$755
Highways & Roads
$738
$413
Education
$20,033
$25,005
Public Welfare
$1,535
$2,106
Health
$341
$481
Hospitals
$3,770
$1,086
Parks & Recreation
$1,154
$559
Housing
$5,951
$3,550
Sewerage
$17
$331
Utilities
$7,265
$3,148
Interest on Debt
$3,048
$0
Other
$14,781
$6,120
D
Richmond, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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