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

Seattle, WA vs Memphis, TN

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

Summary

Seattle spends 55.9% more per capita than Memphis ($12,352/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

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
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
Memphis
Total Spending
$25.3B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$22,111
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$34,065
Total Debt
$808.1M
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$303
Population
734,603
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Seattle$0
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Memphis$1,397
Education
Seattle$1,461
Memphis$0
Health
Seattle$1,131
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleMemphis
Property Tax
$1,831
$10
Sales Tax
$1,094
$496
Income Tax
$3,496
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$2,077
Other
$8,544
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleMemphis
Fire Protection
$210
$469
Highways & Roads
$0
$277
Education
$1,461
$0
Public Welfare
$3,439
$630
Health
$1,131
$391
Hospitals
$1,871
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$1,397
Housing
$3,727
$4,683
Sewerage
$952
$0
Utilities
$6,489
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,158
Other
$11,260
$8,850
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

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