Tampa, FL vs Jacksonville, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Jacksonville, FL and Tampa, FL spend within 2.5% of each other per resident — $31,456 versus $30,690 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Jacksonville, FL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 53/100 (grade C) against 33/100 (grade F) for Tampa, FL — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Tampa, FL carries the lighter load at $2,378 per resident versus $2,821 for Jacksonville, FL. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Tampa, FL at $7,576 per resident and in Jacksonville, FL at $9,436.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 55% of total revenue in Tampa, FL and 14% in Jacksonville, FL.
Summary
Jacksonville spends 2.4% more per capita than Tampa ($766/person difference). Jacksonville, FL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $1,180 | $233 |
| Income Tax | $2,437 | $762 |
| Intergovernmental | $13,224 | $7,348 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,962 | $2,119 |
| Other | $4,657 | $4,705 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $18 |
| Fire Protection | $7,576 | $9,436 |
| Highways & Roads | $418 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,507 | $486 |
| Health | $0 | $332 |
| Hospitals | $703 | $557 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,723 | $1,329 |
| Housing | $4,778 | $5,572 |
| Sewerage | $311 | $176 |
| Utilities | $4,695 | $1,835 |
| Interest on Debt | $89 | $1,942 |
| Other | $8,890 | $9,771 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.