Tucson, AZ vs Peoria, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tucson, AZ and Peoria, AZ spend within 1.5% of each other per resident — $15,759 versus $15,527 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Peoria, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 64/100 (grade C) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Peoria, AZ carries the lighter load at $903 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 Peoria, AZ at $2,012.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Tucson, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Peoria, AZ relies most on charges and fees at 16%.
Summary
Tucson spends 1.5% more per capita than Peoria ($232/person difference). Peoria, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 64/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $17 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $89 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $898 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $1,658 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $2,823 |
| Other | $952 | $1,828 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $330 | $598 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $1,297 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $2,012 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $3,363 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $289 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $3,475 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $0 |
| Other | $3,322 | $4,494 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.