Tucson, AZ vs Charlotte, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Charlotte, NC and Tucson, AZ spend within 0.6% of each other per resident — $15,854 versus $15,759 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Charlotte, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Tucson, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,540 per resident versus $2,690 for Charlotte, NC. 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 Charlotte, NC at $1,571.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Tucson, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Charlotte, NC relies most on other revenue at 10%.
Summary
Charlotte spends 0.6% more per capita than Tucson ($95/person difference). Charlotte, NC 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 | $5 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $541 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $366 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $1,859 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $2,459 |
| Other | $952 | $4,866 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $330 | $463 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $41 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $672 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $1,243 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $1,571 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $3,944 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $2,244 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $2,226 |
| Other | $3,322 | $3,448 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.