Tucson, AZ vs Chandler, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tucson, AZ and Chandler, AZ spend within 6.4% of each other per resident — $15,759 versus $14,811 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Chandler, AZ edges Tucson, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 59/100 (grade C) to 55/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Chandler, AZ carries the lighter load at $10 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 Chandler, AZ at $899.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Tucson, AZ and 100% in Chandler, AZ.
Summary
Tucson spends 6.4% more per capita than Chandler ($948/person difference). Chandler, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $90 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $669 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $10,136 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $1,938 |
| Other | $952 | $3,477 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $330 | $260 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $306 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $670 |
| Health | $0 | $243 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $374 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $899 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $3,286 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $2,461 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $88 |
| Other | $3,322 | $6,223 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.