Roswell, GA vs Columbus, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, GA and Roswell, GA spend within 7.9% of each other per resident — $15,522 versus $14,384 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Columbus, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 54/100 (grade C) for Roswell, GA — a 28-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Roswell, GA carries the lighter load at $34 per resident versus $37 for Columbus, GA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Roswell, GA leads with parks and recreation at $2,116 per resident, while Columbus, GA leads with police at $1,611.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Roswell, GA at 472% of total revenue, whereas Columbus, GA relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Columbus spends 7.3% more per capita than Roswell ($1,138/person difference). Columbus, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $53 | $64 |
| Sales Tax | $822 | $315 |
| Income Tax | $1,347 | $688 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,926 | $792 |
| Charges & Fees | $303 | $2,259 |
| Other | $2,917 | $3,202 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,611 |
| Fire Protection | $710 | $699 |
| Highways & Roads | $229 | $443 |
| Education | $7 | $21 |
| Public Welfare | $944 | $1,247 |
| Hospitals | $6 | $170 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,116 | $669 |
| Housing | $2,325 | $2,701 |
| Sewerage | $65 | $66 |
| Utilities | $3,176 | $1,989 |
| Other | $4,807 | $5,907 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.