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

San Diego, CA vs Arlington, TX

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

Summary

San Diego spends 268.0% more per capita than Arlington ($31,537/person difference). Arlington, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50
City B
Arlington, TX
Pop. 393,469
A
83/100
Budget Balance78
Debt Burden96
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity89
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Arlington
Total Spending
$59.9B
$4.6B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$11,769
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$23.8B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$60,454
Total Debt
$0
$233.8M
Debt / Capita
$0
$594
Population
1,383,987
393,469
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Arlington$0
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Arlington$160
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Arlington$149
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Arlington$1,352
Education
San Diego$2,005
Arlington$0
Health
San Diego$411
Arlington$219

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoArlington
Property Tax
$124
$0
Sales Tax
$63
$507
Income Tax
$194
$73
Intergovernmental
$57
$25,062
Charges & Fees
$14
$2,949
Other
$3,801
$3,897

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoArlington
Police
$3,335
$0
Fire Protection
$1,278
$160
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$149
Education
$2,005
$0
Public Welfare
$700
$826
Health
$411
$219
Hospitals
$0
$152
Parks & Recreation
$436
$1,352
Housing
$4,476
$2,981
Sewerage
$43
$141
Utilities
$11,704
$1,385
Other
$17,509
$4,404
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
A
Arlington, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health

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