Virginia Beach, VA vs Fresno, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Fresno, CA and Virginia Beach, VA spend within 2.1% of each other per resident — $43,387 versus $42,515 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Fresno, CA edges Virginia Beach, VA on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 50/100 (grade C) to 47/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Fresno, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Virginia Beach, VA carries $297 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Virginia Beach, VA at $21,342 per resident and in Fresno, CA at $3,942.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Virginia Beach, VA at 100% of total revenue, whereas Fresno, CA relies most on other revenue at 19%.
Summary
Fresno spends 2.0% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($872/person difference). Fresno, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 50/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $337 |
| Sales Tax | $673 | $19 |
| Income Tax | $831 | $501 |
| Intergovernmental | $31,808 | -$4,470 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,462 | $11 |
| Other | $3,301 | $2,070 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,126 | $3,261 |
| Fire Protection | $512 | $568 |
| Education | $21,342 | $3,942 |
| Public Welfare | $2,071 | $1,946 |
| Health | $426 | $599 |
| Hospitals | $1,036 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,574 | $76 |
| Housing | $2,788 | $2,856 |
| Sewerage | $140 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,523 | $15,340 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $255 |
| Other | $7,978 | $14,545 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.