Tucson, AZ vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tucson, AZ and Raleigh, NC spend within 13.3% of each other per resident — $15,759 versus $13,911 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 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 Raleigh, NC at $1,391.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Tucson, AZ and 47% in Raleigh, NC.
Summary
Tucson spends 13.3% more per capita than Raleigh ($1,848/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $2,681 |
| Other | $952 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $330 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $448 |
| Education | $0 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $498 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $281 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $1,513 |
| Other | $3,322 | $3,646 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.