Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Roanoke, VA vs Arlington, VA

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

Summary

Arlington spends 44.4% more per capita than Roanoke ($30,720/person difference). Roanoke, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Roanoke, VA
Pop. 99,213
C
59/100
Budget Balance37
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Arlington, VA
Pop. 235,845
C
58/100
Budget Balance39
Debt Burden90
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Roanoke
Arlington
Total Spending
$3.8B
$16.3B
Spending / Capita
$38,513
$69,233
Total Revenue
$1.8B
$18.1B
Revenue / Capita
$18,241
$76,540
Total Debt
$722K
$117.7M
Debt / Capita
$7
$499
Population
99,213
235,845
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Roanoke$1,543
Arlington$2,158
Fire Protection
Roanoke$235
Arlington$694
Highways & Roads
Roanoke$1,357
Arlington$780
Parks & Recreation
Roanoke$950
Arlington$2,793
Education
Roanoke$18,609
Arlington$28,519
Health
Roanoke$573
Arlington$851

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoanokeArlington
Property Tax
$0
$27
Sales Tax
$472
$554
Income Tax
$386
$466
Intergovernmental
$1,358
$4,733
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,576
Other
$2,424
$5,381

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoanokeArlington
Police
$1,543
$2,158
Fire Protection
$235
$694
Highways & Roads
$1,357
$780
Education
$18,609
$28,519
Public Welfare
$0
$3,283
Health
$573
$851
Hospitals
$511
$2,783
Parks & Recreation
$950
$2,793
Housing
$2,054
$4,402
Sewerage
$112
$57
Utilities
$3,633
$9,221
Other
$8,936
$13,692
C
Roanoke, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
C
Arlington, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities