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

Tucson, AZ vs Bakersfield, CA

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

Summary

Tucson spends 36.1% more per capita than Bakersfield ($4,183/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Tucson, AZ
Pop. 541,033
C
55/100
Budget Balance71
Debt Burden10
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Tucson
Bakersfield
Total Spending
$8.5B
$4.7B
Spending / Capita
$15,759
$11,576
Total Revenue
$12.6B
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$23,276
$3,862
Total Debt
$833.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,540
$0
Population
541,033
404,321
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Tucson$330
Bakersfield$0
Parks & Recreation
Tucson$1,229
Bakersfield$741

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

TucsonBakersfield
Property Tax
$5
$1
Sales Tax
$309
$20
Income Tax
$1,107
$1,909
Intergovernmental
$23,276
$3,862
Charges & Fees
$4,534
$1,024
Other
$952
$1,915

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

TucsonBakersfield
Fire Protection
$330
$0
Public Welfare
$1,181
$840
Hospitals
$1,314
$425
Parks & Recreation
$1,229
$741
Housing
$3,091
$3,391
Sewerage
$0
$265
Utilities
$3,555
$2,679
Interest on Debt
$1,735
$0
Other
$3,322
$3,234
C
Tucson, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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