Tampa, FL vs Tallahassee, 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 Tampa, FL at $7,576 per resident and in Tallahassee, FL at $6,805.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 55% of total revenue in Tampa, FL and 19% in Tallahassee, FL.
Summary
Tampa spends 2.8% 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 | $0 | $150 |
| Sales Tax | $1,180 | $408 |
| Income Tax | $2,437 | $1,631 |
| Intergovernmental | $13,224 | $9,184 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,962 | $2,128 |
| Other | $4,657 | $6,392 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $7,576 | $6,805 |
| Highways & Roads | $418 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,507 | $3,693 |
| Hospitals | $703 | $197 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,723 | $1,261 |
| Housing | $4,778 | $3,892 |
| Sewerage | $311 | $223 |
| Utilities | $4,695 | $3,311 |
| Interest on Debt | $89 | $1,460 |
| Other | $8,890 | $9,016 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.