San Jose, CA vs Fort Worth, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Jose, CA and Fort Worth, TX spend within 12.5% of each other per resident — $17,934 versus $15,939 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Jose, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Fort Worth, TX — a 27-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
San Jose, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Fort Worth, TX carries $1,921 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in San Jose, CA at $1,424 per resident and in Fort Worth, TX at $708.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in San Jose, CA at 9% of total revenue, whereas Fort Worth, TX relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 15%.
Summary
San Jose spends 12.5% more per capita than Fort Worth ($1,995/person difference). San Jose, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $40 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $315 | $198 |
| Income Tax | $1,935 | $851 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,680 | $4,002 |
| Charges & Fees | $608 | $3,594 |
| Other | $3,519 | $3,439 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $156 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $317 |
| Public Welfare | $810 | $869 |
| Health | $609 | $235 |
| Hospitals | $1,254 | $1,680 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,424 | $708 |
| Housing | $4,897 | $4,217 |
| Sewerage | $161 | $267 |
| Utilities | $2,533 | $2,674 |
| Other | $6,247 | $4,817 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.