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

Sacramento, CA vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Summary

Sacramento spends 349.7% more per capita than Phoenix ($55,227/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Sacramento, CA
Pop. 523,600
C
57/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Sacramento
Phoenix
Total Spending
$37.2B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$71,020
$15,793
Total Revenue
$33.3B
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$63,682
$50,709
Total Debt
$0
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,156
Population
523,600
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Sacramento$5,402
Phoenix$0
Fire Protection
Sacramento$2,466
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
Sacramento$0
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
Sacramento$1,437
Phoenix$652
Education
Sacramento$2,684
Phoenix$214
Health
Sacramento$18
Phoenix$258

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoPhoenix
Property Tax
$1,465
$7
Sales Tax
$378
$338
Income Tax
$3,104
$1,260
Intergovernmental
$3,400
$50,709
Charges & Fees
$3,239
$2,998
Other
$5,072
$2,038

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoPhoenix
Police
$5,402
$0
Fire Protection
$2,466
$170
Highways & Roads
$0
$86
Education
$2,684
$214
Public Welfare
$3,470
$507
Health
$18
$258
Hospitals
$0
$1,521
Parks & Recreation
$1,437
$652
Housing
$8,577
$3,879
Sewerage
$103
$388
Utilities
$19,920
$2,480
Interest on Debt
$162
$1,760
Other
$26,782
$3,878
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health

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