Tucson, AZ vs Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, NM and Tucson, AZ spend within 9.4% of each other per resident — $17,237 versus $15,759 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Albuquerque, NM holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 81/100 (grade A) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 26-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Albuquerque, NM carries the lighter load at $613 per resident versus $1,540 for Tucson, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Tucson, AZ at $1,229 per resident and in Albuquerque, NM at $1,990.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Tucson, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Albuquerque, NM relies most on charges and fees at 11%.