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

Seattle, WA vs Austin, TX

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

Summary

Seattle spends 58.3% more per capita than Austin ($12,691/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
Austin
Total Spending
$25.3B
$20.9B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$21,772
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$74.4B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$77,600
Total Debt
$808.1M
$1.2B
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$1,229
Population
734,603
958,202
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Austin$634
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Austin$1,801
Education
Seattle$1,461
Austin$51
Health
Seattle$1,131
Austin$517

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleAustin
Property Tax
$1,831
$0
Sales Tax
$1,094
$526
Income Tax
$3,496
$1,465
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$14,031
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$3,247
Other
$8,544
$5,645

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleAustin
Fire Protection
$210
$634
Education
$1,461
$51
Public Welfare
$3,439
$1,837
Health
$1,131
$517
Hospitals
$1,871
$664
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$1,801
Housing
$3,727
$3,741
Sewerage
$952
$865
Utilities
$6,489
$3,264
Other
$11,260
$8,399
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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