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

Surprise, AZ vs Gilbert, AZ

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

Summary

Surprise spends 28.4% more per capita than Gilbert ($3,197/person difference). Gilbert, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 60/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Surprise, AZ
Pop. 145,591
C
59/100
Budget Balance18
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Gilbert, AZ
Pop. 267,267
C
60/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Surprise
Gilbert
Total Spending
$2.1B
$3.0B
Spending / Capita
$14,436
$11,239
Total Revenue
$502.8M
$9.6B
Revenue / Capita
$3,454
$35,750
Total Debt
$45.0M
$499.0M
Debt / Capita
$309
$1,867
Population
145,591
267,267
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Surprise$0
Gilbert$39
Fire Protection
Surprise$870
Gilbert$133
Highways & Roads
Surprise$0
Gilbert$191
Parks & Recreation
Surprise$2,032
Gilbert$1,066
Health
Surprise$0
Gilbert$142

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SurpriseGilbert
Property Tax
$0
$2
Sales Tax
$100
$244
Income Tax
$673
$1,096
Intergovernmental
$3,454
$35,750
Charges & Fees
$1,036
$2,411
Other
$2,972
$1,553

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SurpriseGilbert
Police
$0
$39
Fire Protection
$870
$133
Highways & Roads
$0
$191
Public Welfare
$2,361
$955
Health
$0
$142
Hospitals
$1,200
$29
Parks & Recreation
$2,032
$1,066
Housing
$2,769
$2,707
Sewerage
$0
$208
Utilities
$1,764
$2,287
Interest on Debt
$38
$25
Other
$3,403
$3,455
C
Surprise, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
C
Gilbert, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 60/100
Average fiscal health

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