Tucson, AZ vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Virginia Beach, VA outspends Tucson, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $42,515 versus $15,759, a 170% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Tucson, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 55/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $1,540 for Tucson, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Tucson, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $1,229 per resident, while Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Tucson, AZ and 100% in Virginia Beach, VA.
Summary
Virginia Beach spends 62.9% more per capita than Tucson ($26,756/person difference). Tucson, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $673 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $831 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $31,808 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $1,462 |
| Other | $952 | $3,301 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,126 |
| Fire Protection | $330 | $512 |
| Education | $0 | $21,342 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $2,071 |
| Health | $0 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $1,036 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $1,574 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $2,788 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $140 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $3,523 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $0 |
| Other | $3,322 | $7,978 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.