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

Richmond, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

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

Summary

Richmond spends 32.0% more per capita than Portsmouth ($14,957/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

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
Portsmouth, VA
Pop. 97,384
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Richmond
Portsmouth
Total Spending
$14.0B
$4.5B
Spending / Capita
$61,661
$46,704
Total Revenue
$17.5B
$6.4B
Revenue / Capita
$77,122
$66,060
Total Debt
$296.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,304
$0
Population
227,171
97,384
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Richmond$2,108
Portsmouth$1,848
Fire Protection
Richmond$921
Portsmouth$450
Highways & Roads
Richmond$738
Portsmouth$954
Parks & Recreation
Richmond$1,154
Portsmouth$1,573
Education
Richmond$20,033
Portsmouth$20,569
Health
Richmond$341
Portsmouth$270

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RichmondPortsmouth
Sales Tax
$930
$291
Income Tax
$879
$2,119
Intergovernmental
$3,985
$12
Charges & Fees
$3,949
$2,606
Other
$7,690
$2,972

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RichmondPortsmouth
Police
$2,108
$1,848
Fire Protection
$921
$450
Highways & Roads
$738
$954
Education
$20,033
$20,569
Public Welfare
$1,535
$1,406
Health
$341
$270
Hospitals
$3,770
$3,784
Parks & Recreation
$1,154
$1,573
Housing
$5,951
$3,282
Sewerage
$17
$298
Utilities
$7,265
$4,446
Interest on Debt
$3,048
$63
Other
$14,781
$7,760
D
Richmond, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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