South Fulton, GA vs Atlanta, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA and South Fulton, GA spend within 9.7% of each other per resident — $25,457 versus $23,211 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 48/100 (grade D) for South Fulton, GA — a 37-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in South Fulton, GA at $985 per resident and in Atlanta, GA at $1,274.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in South Fulton, GA at 1390% of total revenue, whereas Atlanta, GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 6%.
Summary
Atlanta spends 8.8% more per capita than South Fulton ($2,246/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $36 | $419 |
| Sales Tax | $369 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1,634 | $1,292 |
| Intergovernmental | $416 | $9,121 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,624 | $5,645 |
| Other | $5,785 | $5,461 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $315 |
| Fire Protection | $456 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $129 | $513 |
| Education | $138 | $25 |
| Public Welfare | $1,252 | $1,587 |
| Hospitals | $381 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $985 | $1,274 |
| Housing | $2,512 | $4,594 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $343 |
| Utilities | $4,087 | $8,026 |
| Other | $13,271 | $8,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.