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

Tempe, AZ vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Summary

Tempe spends 43.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($6,924/person difference). Tempe, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 81/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Tempe, AZ
Pop. 181,005
A
81/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden93
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency45
Revenue Diversity100
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
Tempe
Phoenix
Total Spending
$4.1B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$22,717
$15,793
Total Revenue
$10.2B
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$56,620
$50,709
Total Debt
$86.4M
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$477
$1,156
Population
181,005
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Tempe$425
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
Tempe$603
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
Tempe$996
Phoenix$652
Education
Tempe$0
Phoenix$214
Health
Tempe$189
Phoenix$258

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

TempePhoenix
Property Tax
$3
$7
Sales Tax
$353
$338
Income Tax
$1,152
$1,260
Intergovernmental
$3,872
$50,709
Charges & Fees
$2,554
$2,998
Other
$3,054
$2,038

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

TempePhoenix
Fire Protection
$425
$170
Highways & Roads
$603
$86
Education
$0
$214
Public Welfare
$985
$507
Health
$189
$258
Hospitals
$865
$1,521
Parks & Recreation
$996
$652
Housing
$6,386
$3,879
Sewerage
$577
$388
Utilities
$2,702
$2,480
Interest on Debt
$2,731
$1,760
Other
$6,258
$3,878
A
Tempe, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 81/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health

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