San Diego, CA vs Fort Worth, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Diego, CA outspends Fort Worth, TX by a wide margin per resident — $43,306 versus $15,939, a 172% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Fort Worth, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 53/100 (grade C) for San Diego, CA — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
San Diego, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Fort Worth, TX carries $1,921 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: San Diego, CA leads with police at $3,335 per resident, while Fort Worth, TX leads with parks and recreation at $708.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in San Diego, CA at 39% of total revenue, whereas Fort Worth, TX relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 15%.
Summary
San Diego spends 171.7% more per capita than Fort Worth ($27,367/person difference). Fort Worth, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $124 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $63 | $198 |
| Income Tax | $194 | $851 |
| Intergovernmental | $57 | $4,002 |
| Charges & Fees | $14 | $3,594 |
| Other | $3,801 | $3,439 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $3,335 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,278 | $156 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,408 | $317 |
| Education | $2,005 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $700 | $869 |
| Health | $411 | $235 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $1,680 |
| Parks & Recreation | $436 | $708 |
| Housing | $4,476 | $4,217 |
| Sewerage | $43 | $267 |
| Utilities | $11,704 | $2,674 |
| Other | $17,509 | $4,817 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.