Virginia Beach, VA vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Virginia Beach, VA outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $42,515 versus $22,111, a 92% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $303 for Memphis, TN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342 per resident, while Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Virginia Beach, VA and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
Virginia Beach spends 92.3% more per capita than Memphis ($20,404/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $673 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $831 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $31,808 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,462 | $2,077 |
| Other | $3,301 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,126 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $512 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $277 |
| Education | $21,342 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $2,071 | $630 |
| Health | $426 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $1,036 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,574 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $2,788 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $140 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,523 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,158 |
| Other | $7,978 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.