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

Sacramento, CA vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Sacramento spends 106.1% more per capita than Seattle ($36,558/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

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
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Sacramento
Seattle
Total Spending
$37.2B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$71,020
$34,463
Total Revenue
$33.3B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$63,682
$76,958
Total Debt
$0
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,100
Population
523,600
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Sacramento$5,402
Seattle$0
Fire Protection
Sacramento$2,466
Seattle$210
Parks & Recreation
Sacramento$1,437
Seattle$3,923
Education
Sacramento$2,684
Seattle$1,461
Health
Sacramento$18
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoSeattle
Property Tax
$1,465
$1,831
Sales Tax
$378
$1,094
Income Tax
$3,104
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$3,400
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$3,239
$3,960
Other
$5,072
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoSeattle
Police
$5,402
$0
Fire Protection
$2,466
$210
Education
$2,684
$1,461
Public Welfare
$3,470
$3,439
Health
$18
$1,131
Hospitals
$0
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$1,437
$3,923
Housing
$8,577
$3,727
Sewerage
$103
$952
Utilities
$19,920
$6,489
Interest on Debt
$162
$0
Other
$26,782
$11,260
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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