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

Roanoke, VA vs Chesapeake, VA

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

Summary

Chesapeake spends 16.0% more per capita than Roanoke ($7,346/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
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Roanoke
Chesapeake
Total Spending
$3.8B
$11.4B
Spending / Capita
$38,513
$45,860
Total Revenue
$1.8B
$24.3M
Revenue / Capita
$18,241
$98
Total Debt
$722K
$170.5M
Debt / Capita
$7
$684
Population
99,213
249,377
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Roanoke$1,543
Chesapeake$2,306
Fire Protection
Roanoke$235
Chesapeake$755
Highways & Roads
Roanoke$1,357
Chesapeake$413
Parks & Recreation
Roanoke$950
Chesapeake$559
Education
Roanoke$18,609
Chesapeake$25,005
Health
Roanoke$573
Chesapeake$481

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoanokeChesapeake
Property Tax
$0
$12
Sales Tax
$472
$39
Income Tax
$386
$0
Intergovernmental
$1,358
$5
Charges & Fees
$0
$1,780
Other
$2,424
$3,671

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoanokeChesapeake
Police
$1,543
$2,306
Fire Protection
$235
$755
Highways & Roads
$1,357
$413
Education
$18,609
$25,005
Public Welfare
$0
$2,106
Health
$573
$481
Hospitals
$511
$1,086
Parks & Recreation
$950
$559
Housing
$2,054
$3,550
Sewerage
$112
$331
Utilities
$3,633
$3,148
Other
$8,936
$6,120
C
Roanoke, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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