Roswell, GA vs Atlanta, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA outspends Roswell, GA by a wide margin per resident — $25,457 versus $14,384, a 77% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 54/100 (grade C) for Roswell, GA — a 31-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Roswell, GA carries $34 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Roswell, GA at $2,116 per resident and in Atlanta, GA at $1,274.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 472% of total revenue in Roswell, GA and 6% in Atlanta, GA.
Summary
Atlanta spends 43.5% more per capita than Roswell ($11,073/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $53 | $419 |
| Sales Tax | $822 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1,347 | $1,292 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,926 | $9,121 |
| Charges & Fees | $303 | $5,645 |
| Other | $2,917 | $5,461 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $315 |
| Fire Protection | $710 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $229 | $513 |
| Education | $7 | $25 |
| Public Welfare | $944 | $1,587 |
| Hospitals | $6 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,116 | $1,274 |
| Housing | $2,325 | $4,594 |
| Sewerage | $65 | $343 |
| Utilities | $3,176 | $8,026 |
| Other | $4,807 | $8,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.