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

Sacramento, CA vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 70.8% more per capita than Sacramento ($172,320/person difference). Sacramento, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Sacramento
Washington
Total Spending
$37.2B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$71,020
$243,341
Total Revenue
$33.3B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$63,682
$277,701
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,516
Population
523,600
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Sacramento$5,402
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
Sacramento$2,466
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
Sacramento$0
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
Sacramento$1,437
Washington$5,459
Education
Sacramento$2,684
Washington$53,224
Health
Sacramento$18
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoWashington
Property Tax
$1,465
$25
Sales Tax
$378
$991
Income Tax
$3,104
$141
Intergovernmental
$3,400
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$3,239
$4,070
Other
$5,072
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoWashington
Police
$5,402
$4,183
Fire Protection
$2,466
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,435
Education
$2,684
$53,224
Public Welfare
$3,470
$2,498
Health
$18
$1,009
Hospitals
$0
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$1,437
$5,459
Housing
$8,577
$10,296
Sewerage
$103
$2,881
Utilities
$19,920
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$162
$58
General Admin
$0
$3,225
Other
$26,782
$48,155
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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