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

Roswell, GA vs South Fulton, GA

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

South Fulton, GA outspends Roswell, GA by a wide margin per resident — $23,211 versus $14,384, a 61% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Roswell, GA edges South Fulton, GA on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 54/100 (grade C) to 48/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

South Fulton, 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 South Fulton, GA at $985.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Roswell, GA at 472% of total revenue, whereas South Fulton, GA relies most on other revenue at 1390%.

Summary

South Fulton spends 38.0% more per capita than Roswell ($8,827/person difference). Roswell, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 54/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Roswell, GA
Pop. 92,770
C
54/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency87
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
South Fulton, GA
Pop. 107,865
D
48/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency42
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Roswell
South Fulton
Total Spending
$1.3B
$2.5B
Spending / Capita
$14,384
$23,211
Total Revenue
$195.0M
$44.9M
Revenue / Capita
$2,102
$416
Total Debt
$3.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$34
$0
Population
92,770
107,865
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Roswell$710
South Fulton$456
Highways & Roads
Roswell$229
South Fulton$129
Parks & Recreation
Roswell$2,116
South Fulton$985
Education
Roswell$7
South Fulton$138

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoswellSouth Fulton
Property Tax
$53
$36
Sales Tax
$822
$369
Income Tax
$1,347
$1,634
Intergovernmental
$9,926
$416
Charges & Fees
$303
$1,624
Other
$2,917
$5,785

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RoswellSouth Fulton
Fire Protection
$710
$456
Highways & Roads
$229
$129
Education
$7
$138
Public Welfare
$944
$1,252
Hospitals
$6
$381
Parks & Recreation
$2,116
$985
Housing
$2,325
$2,512
Sewerage
$65
$0
Utilities
$3,176
$4,087
Other
$4,807
$13,271
C
Roswell, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health
D
South Fulton, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.