Tucson, AZ vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Seattle, WA outspends Tucson, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $34,463 versus $15,759, a 119% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Seattle, WA edges Tucson, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 61/100 (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, Seattle, WA carries the lighter load at $1,100 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 Seattle, WA at $3,923.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Tucson, AZ and 13% in Seattle, WA.
Summary
Seattle spends 54.3% more per capita than Tucson ($18,703/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $1,831 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $1,094 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $3,496 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $9,846 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $3,960 |
| Other | $952 | $8,544 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $330 | $210 |
| Education | $0 | $1,461 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $3,439 |
| Health | $0 | $1,131 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $1,871 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $3,923 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $3,727 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $952 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $6,489 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $0 |
| Other | $3,322 | $11,260 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.