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

Savannah, GA vs Roswell, GA

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Savannah, GA outspends Roswell, GA by a wide margin per resident — $24,281 versus $14,384, a 69% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Savannah, GA edges Roswell, GA on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 57/100 (grade C) to 54/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

On debt, Savannah, GA carries the lighter load at $9 per resident versus $34 for Roswell, GA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Savannah, GA at $1,980 per resident and in Roswell, GA at $2,116.

They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Savannah, GA at 28% of total revenue, whereas Roswell, GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 472%.

Summary

Savannah spends 68.8% more per capita than Roswell ($9,897/person difference). Savannah, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Savannah, GA
Pop. 147,583
C
57/100
Budget Balance4
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency36
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Roswell, GA
Pop. 92,770
C
54/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency87
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Savannah
Roswell
Total Spending
$3.6B
$1.3B
Spending / Capita
$24,281
$14,384
Total Revenue
$2.8B
$195.0M
Revenue / Capita
$18,788
$2,102
Total Debt
$1.3M
$3.1M
Debt / Capita
$9
$34
Population
147,583
92,770
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Savannah$408
Roswell$710
Highways & Roads
Savannah$402
Roswell$229
Parks & Recreation
Savannah$1,980
Roswell$2,116
Education
Savannah$157
Roswell$7

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SavannahRoswell
Property Tax
$18
$53
Sales Tax
$1,601
$822
Income Tax
$2,611
$1,347
Intergovernmental
$413
$9,926
Charges & Fees
$1,501
$303
Other
$5,349
$2,917

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SavannahRoswell
Fire Protection
$408
$710
Highways & Roads
$402
$229
Education
$157
$7
Public Welfare
$3,035
$944
Hospitals
$0
$6
Parks & Recreation
$1,980
$2,116
Housing
$4,362
$2,325
Sewerage
$266
$65
Utilities
$5,827
$3,176
Other
$7,844
$4,807
C
Savannah, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
C
Roswell, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.