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

Roanoke, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

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

Summary

Portsmouth spends 17.5% more per capita than Roanoke ($8,191/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

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

Key Metrics

Metric
Roanoke
Portsmouth
Total Spending
$3.8B
$4.5B
Spending / Capita
$38,513
$46,704
Total Revenue
$1.8B
$6.4B
Revenue / Capita
$18,241
$66,060
Total Debt
$722K
$0
Debt / Capita
$7
$0
Population
99,213
97,384
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Roanoke$1,543
Portsmouth$1,848
Fire Protection
Roanoke$235
Portsmouth$450
Highways & Roads
Roanoke$1,357
Portsmouth$954
Parks & Recreation
Roanoke$950
Portsmouth$1,573
Education
Roanoke$18,609
Portsmouth$20,569
Health
Roanoke$573
Portsmouth$270

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoanokePortsmouth
Sales Tax
$472
$291
Income Tax
$386
$2,119
Intergovernmental
$1,358
$12
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,606
Other
$2,424
$2,972

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoanokePortsmouth
Police
$1,543
$1,848
Fire Protection
$235
$450
Highways & Roads
$1,357
$954
Education
$18,609
$20,569
Public Welfare
$0
$1,406
Health
$573
$270
Hospitals
$511
$3,784
Parks & Recreation
$950
$1,573
Housing
$2,054
$3,282
Sewerage
$112
$298
Utilities
$3,633
$4,446
Interest on Debt
$0
$63
Other
$8,936
$7,760
C
Roanoke, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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