Surprise, AZ vs Gilbert, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Surprise, AZ spends 28% more per resident than Gilbert, AZ: $14,436 against $11,239. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Gilbert, AZ edges Surprise, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 1 points — 60/100 (grade C) to 59/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Surprise, AZ carries the lighter load at $309 per resident versus $1,867 for Gilbert, 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 Gilbert, AZ at $1,066.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Surprise, AZ and 100% in Gilbert, AZ.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.