Surprise, AZ vs Chandler, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chandler, AZ and Surprise, AZ spend within 2.6% of each other per resident — $14,811 versus $14,436 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
On the CitySpend Fiscal Health Score the two are level: Surprise, AZ and Chandler, AZ both land at 59/100 (grade C and C respectively), so the deciding factors sit in the underlying six-factor breakdown rather than the rolled-up grade.
On debt, Chandler, AZ carries the lighter load at $10 per resident versus $309 for Surprise, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Surprise, AZ at $2,032 per resident and in Chandler, AZ at $899.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Surprise, AZ and 100% in Chandler, AZ.
Summary
Chandler spends 2.5% more per capita than Surprise ($374/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $100 | $90 |
| Income Tax | $673 | $669 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,454 | $10,136 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,036 | $1,938 |
| Other | $2,972 | $3,477 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $870 | $260 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $306 |
| Public Welfare | $2,361 | $670 |
| Health | $0 | $243 |
| Hospitals | $1,200 | $374 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,032 | $899 |
| Housing | $2,769 | $3,286 |
| Utilities | $1,764 | $2,461 |
| Interest on Debt | $38 | $88 |
| Other | $3,403 | $6,223 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.