Tallahassee, FL vs Tampa, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tampa, FL and Tallahassee, FL spend within 2.8% of each other per resident — $30,690 versus $29,857 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Tallahassee, FL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 33/100 (grade F) for Tampa, FL — a 30-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Tallahassee, FL carries the lighter load at $543 per resident versus $2,378 for Tampa, FL. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Tallahassee, FL at $6,805 per resident and in Tampa, FL at $7,576.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 19% of total revenue in Tallahassee, FL and 55% in Tampa, FL.
Summary
Tampa spends 2.7% more per capita than Tallahassee ($833/person difference). Tallahassee, FL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $150 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $408 | $1,180 |
| Income Tax | $1,631 | $2,437 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,184 | $13,224 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,128 | $3,962 |
| Other | $6,392 | $4,657 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $6,805 | $7,576 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $418 |
| Public Welfare | $3,693 | $1,507 |
| Hospitals | $197 | $703 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,261 | $1,723 |
| Housing | $3,892 | $4,778 |
| Sewerage | $223 | $311 |
| Utilities | $3,311 | $4,695 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,460 | $89 |
| Other | $9,016 | $8,890 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.