San Antonio, TX vs Fort Worth, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Antonio, TX and Fort Worth, TX spend within 6.3% of each other per resident — $16,943 versus $15,939 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX edges Fort Worth, TX on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 68/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Fort Worth, TX carries the lighter load at $1,921 per resident versus $2,131 for San Antonio, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in San Antonio, TX at $1,045 per resident and in Fort Worth, TX at $708.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 17% of total revenue in San Antonio, TX and 15% in Fort Worth, TX.
Summary
San Antonio spends 6.3% more per capita than Fort Worth ($1,003/person difference). San Antonio, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $9 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $293 | $198 |
| Income Tax | $1,000 | $851 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,312 | $4,002 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,025 | $3,594 |
| Other | $3,184 | $3,439 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $396 | $156 |
| Highways & Roads | $158 | $317 |
| Education | $23 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,188 | $869 |
| Health | $293 | $235 |
| Hospitals | $993 | $1,680 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,045 | $708 |
| Housing | $3,570 | $4,217 |
| Sewerage | $100 | $267 |
| Utilities | $3,826 | $2,674 |
| Other | $5,352 | $4,817 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.