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

Seattle, WA vs Baltimore, MD

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

Summary

Baltimore spends 49.3% more per capita than Seattle ($33,472/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

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
Baltimore, MD
Pop. 584,548
B
70/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
Baltimore
Total Spending
$25.3B
$39.7B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$67,935
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$41.3B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$70,679
Total Debt
$808.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$0
Population
734,603
584,548
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Seattle$0
Baltimore$820
Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Baltimore$1,214
Highways & Roads
Seattle$0
Baltimore$676
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Baltimore$384
Education
Seattle$1,461
Baltimore$35,510
Health
Seattle$1,131
Baltimore$757

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleBaltimore
Property Tax
$1,831
$84
Sales Tax
$1,094
$55
Income Tax
$3,496
$375
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$5,085
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$2,192
Other
$8,544
$4,765

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleBaltimore
Police
$0
$820
Fire Protection
$210
$1,214
Highways & Roads
$0
$676
Education
$1,461
$35,510
Public Welfare
$3,439
$714
Health
$1,131
$757
Hospitals
$1,871
$1,877
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$384
Housing
$3,727
$4,087
Sewerage
$952
$87
Utilities
$6,489
$3,809
General Admin
$0
$19
Other
$11,260
$17,981
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

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