Virginia Beach, VA vs Indianapolis city (balance), IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Indianapolis city (balance), IN and Virginia Beach, VA spend within 8.3% of each other per resident — $46,045 versus $42,515 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Indianapolis city (balance), IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 74/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 27-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $577 for Indianapolis city (balance), IN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342 per resident, while Indianapolis city (balance), IN leads with police at $2,032.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Virginia Beach, VA at 100% of total revenue, whereas Indianapolis city (balance), IN relies most on other revenue at 6%.
Summary
Indianapolis city (balance) spends 7.7% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($3,530/person difference). Indianapolis city (balance), IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 74/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $20 |
| Sales Tax | $673 | $178 |
| Income Tax | $831 | $136 |
| Intergovernmental | $31,808 | $1,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,462 | $2,813 |
| Other | $3,301 | $4,675 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,126 | $2,032 |
| Fire Protection | $512 | $397 |
| Education | $21,342 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $2,071 | $1,469 |
| Health | $426 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,036 | $2,453 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,574 | $798 |
| Housing | $2,788 | $2,664 |
| Sewerage | $140 | $248 |
| Utilities | $3,523 | $2,227 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,381 |
| General Admin | $0 | $23,227 |
| Other | $7,978 | $9,149 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.