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

Seattle, WA vs Sacramento, CA

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

Summary

Sacramento spends 51.5% more per capita than Seattle ($36,558/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

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
Sacramento, CA
Pop. 523,600
C
57/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
Sacramento
Total Spending
$25.3B
$37.2B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$71,020
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$33.3B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$63,682
Total Debt
$808.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$0
Population
734,603
523,600
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Seattle$0
Sacramento$5,402
Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Sacramento$2,466
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Sacramento$1,437
Education
Seattle$1,461
Sacramento$2,684
Health
Seattle$1,131
Sacramento$18

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleSacramento
Property Tax
$1,831
$1,465
Sales Tax
$1,094
$378
Income Tax
$3,496
$3,104
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$3,400
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$3,239
Other
$8,544
$5,072

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleSacramento
Police
$0
$5,402
Fire Protection
$210
$2,466
Education
$1,461
$2,684
Public Welfare
$3,439
$3,470
Health
$1,131
$18
Hospitals
$1,871
$0
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$1,437
Housing
$3,727
$8,577
Sewerage
$952
$103
Utilities
$6,489
$19,920
Interest on Debt
$0
$162
Other
$11,260
$26,782
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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