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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Tuscaloosa, AL vs Decatur, AL

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Decatur spends 36.6% more per capita than Tuscaloosa ($6,291/person difference). Tuscaloosa, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop. 105,797
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Decatur, AL
Pop. 57,525
D
46/100
Budget Balance60
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency69
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Tuscaloosa
Decatur
Total Spending
$1.2B
$988.6M
Spending / Capita
$10,894
$17,185
Total Revenue
$0
$2.2B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$37,427
Total Debt
$0
$74.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,290
Population
105,797
57,525
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Tuscaloosa$1,260
Decatur$0
Fire Protection
Tuscaloosa$1,043
Decatur$254
Highways & Roads
Tuscaloosa$0
Decatur$95
Parks & Recreation
Tuscaloosa$375
Decatur$2,612
Education
Tuscaloosa$0
Decatur$43
Health
Tuscaloosa$540
Decatur$66

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

TuscaloosaDecatur
Property Tax
$2
$855
Sales Tax
$0
$975
Income Tax
$0
$1,360
Intergovernmental
$0
$37,427
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,804
Other
$791
$4,387

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

TuscaloosaDecatur
Police
$1,260
$0
Fire Protection
$1,043
$254
Highways & Roads
$0
$95
Education
$0
$43
Public Welfare
$2,419
$1,023
Health
$540
$66
Hospitals
$0
$1,729
Parks & Recreation
$375
$2,612
Housing
$1,916
$2,549
Sewerage
$0
$164
Utilities
$88
$3,362
Other
$3,252
$5,289
C
Tuscaloosa, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
D
Decatur, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health

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