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

San Diego, CA vs Milwaukee, WI

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

Summary

San Diego spends 123.0% more per capita than Milwaukee ($23,889/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

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
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Milwaukee
Total Spending
$59.9B
$11.1B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$19,417
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$6.3B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$11,027
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
1,383,987
573,299
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Milwaukee$3,642
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Milwaukee$802
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Milwaukee$23
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Milwaukee$2,206
Education
San Diego$2,005
Milwaukee$0
Health
San Diego$411
Milwaukee$1

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoMilwaukee
Property Tax
$124
$0
Sales Tax
$63
$6,548
Income Tax
$194
$1
Intergovernmental
$57
$1,231
Charges & Fees
$14
$0
Other
$3,801
$3,984

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoMilwaukee
Police
$3,335
$3,642
Fire Protection
$1,278
$802
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$23
Education
$2,005
$0
Public Welfare
$700
$180
Health
$411
$1
Parks & Recreation
$436
$2,206
Housing
$4,476
$1,071
Sewerage
$43
$0
Utilities
$11,704
$1,866
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,608
Other
$17,509
$8,018
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health

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