Springdale, AR vs Little Rock, AR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Little Rock, AR outspends Springdale, AR by a wide margin per resident — $17,625 versus $10,025, a 76% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Little Rock, AR holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 87/100 (grade A) against 70/100 (grade B) for Springdale, AR — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Little Rock, AR reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Springdale, AR carries $839 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Springdale, AR at $836 per resident and in Little Rock, AR at $2,054.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 21% of total revenue in Springdale, AR and 25% in Little Rock, AR.
Summary
Little Rock spends 43.1% more per capita than Springdale ($7,600/person difference). Little Rock, AR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $153 | $1,239 |
| Income Tax | $445 | $1,234 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,970 | $5,965 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,545 | $0 |
| Other | $2,342 | $5,700 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $268 | $521 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $55 |
| Education | $8 | $39 |
| Public Welfare | $747 | $986 |
| Health | $312 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $94 | $427 |
| Parks & Recreation | $836 | $2,054 |
| Housing | $2,318 | $3,902 |
| Sewerage | $140 | $82 |
| Utilities | $1,928 | $1,001 |
| Other | $3,374 | $8,558 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.