Rock Hill, SC vs Columbia, SC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbia, SC and Rock Hill, SC spend within 11.6% of each other per resident — $19,896 versus $17,824 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Rock Hill, SC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 65/100 (grade B) for Columbia, SC — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Rock Hill, SC reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbia, SC carries $1,389 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Rock Hill, SC at $3,181 per resident and in Columbia, SC at $1,265.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Rock Hill, SC at 16% of total revenue, whereas Columbia, SC relies most on charges and fees at 13%.
Summary
Columbia spends 10.4% more per capita than Rock Hill ($2,072/person difference). Rock Hill, SC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $415 | $623 |
| Income Tax | $1,207 | $42 |
| Intergovernmental | $8,909 | $6,842 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,386 | $8,276 |
| Other | $4,871 | $6,537 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $470 | $467 |
| Highways & Roads | $227 | $454 |
| Public Welfare | $387 | $433 |
| Hospitals | $666 | $1,042 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,181 | $1,265 |
| Housing | $2,961 | $3,604 |
| Sewerage | $37 | $141 |
| Utilities | $3,368 | $4,665 |
| Interest on Debt | $328 | $0 |
| Other | $6,200 | $7,824 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.