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

Surprise, AZ vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Summary

Phoenix spends 8.6% more per capita than Surprise ($1,357/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).

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
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Surprise
Phoenix
Total Spending
$2.1B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$14,436
$15,793
Total Revenue
$502.8M
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$3,454
$50,709
Total Debt
$45.0M
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$309
$1,156
Population
145,591
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Surprise$870
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
Surprise$0
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
Surprise$2,032
Phoenix$652
Education
Surprise$0
Phoenix$214
Health
Surprise$0
Phoenix$258

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SurprisePhoenix
Property Tax
$0
$7
Sales Tax
$100
$338
Income Tax
$673
$1,260
Intergovernmental
$3,454
$50,709
Charges & Fees
$1,036
$2,998
Other
$2,972
$2,038

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SurprisePhoenix
Fire Protection
$870
$170
Highways & Roads
$0
$86
Education
$0
$214
Public Welfare
$2,361
$507
Health
$0
$258
Hospitals
$1,200
$1,521
Parks & Recreation
$2,032
$652
Housing
$2,769
$3,879
Sewerage
$0
$388
Utilities
$1,764
$2,480
Interest on Debt
$38
$1,760
Other
$3,403
$3,878
C
Surprise, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health

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