Roanoke, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Virginia Beach, VA and Roanoke, VA spend within 10.4% of each other per resident — $42,515 versus $38,513 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Roanoke, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 59/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Roanoke, VA carries the lighter load at $7 per resident versus $297 for Virginia Beach, VA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Roanoke, VA at $18,609 per resident and in Virginia Beach, VA at $21,342.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Roanoke, VA at 13% of total revenue, whereas Virginia Beach, VA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Virginia Beach spends 9.4% more per capita than Roanoke ($4,002/person difference). Roanoke, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $472 | $673 |
| Income Tax | $386 | $831 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,358 | $31,808 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,462 |
| Other | $2,424 | $3,301 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,543 | $1,126 |
| Fire Protection | $235 | $512 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,357 | $0 |
| Education | $18,609 | $21,342 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $2,071 |
| Health | $573 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $511 | $1,036 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $1,574 |
| Housing | $2,054 | $2,788 |
| Sewerage | $112 | $140 |
| Utilities | $3,633 | $3,523 |
| Other | $8,936 | $7,978 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.