Seattle, WA vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Seattle, WA outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $34,463 versus $13,911, a 148% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 61/100 (grade C) for Seattle, WA — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $1,100 for Seattle, WA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Seattle, WA at $3,923 per resident and in Raleigh, NC at $1,391.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 13% of total revenue in Seattle, WA and 47% in Raleigh, NC.
Summary
Seattle spends 147.7% more per capita than Raleigh ($20,552/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1,831 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $1,094 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $3,496 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,846 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,960 | $2,681 |
| Other | $8,544 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $210 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $448 |
| Education | $1,461 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $3,439 | $498 |
| Health | $1,131 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,871 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,923 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $3,727 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $952 | $281 |
| Utilities | $6,489 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,513 |
| Other | $11,260 | $3,646 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.