Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Virginia Beach, VA vs Norfolk, VA

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

Summary

Norfolk spends 16.4% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($8,364/person difference). Virginia Beach, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Norfolk, VA
Pop. 236,973
D
46/100
Budget Balance62
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Virginia Beach
Norfolk
Total Spending
$19.5B
$12.1B
Spending / Capita
$42,515
$50,880
Total Revenue
$14.6B
$17.4B
Revenue / Capita
$31,808
$73,324
Total Debt
$135.8M
$324.7M
Debt / Capita
$297
$1,370
Population
457,900
236,973
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Virginia Beach$1,126
Norfolk$1,718
Fire Protection
Virginia Beach$512
Norfolk$832
Highways & Roads
Virginia Beach$0
Norfolk$1,186
Parks & Recreation
Virginia Beach$1,574
Norfolk$1,601
Education
Virginia Beach$21,342
Norfolk$19,019
Health
Virginia Beach$426
Norfolk$519

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachNorfolk
Property Tax
$0
$97
Sales Tax
$673
$1,289
Income Tax
$831
$896
Intergovernmental
$31,808
$4,946
Charges & Fees
$1,462
$4,679
Other
$3,301
$3,596

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachNorfolk
Police
$1,126
$1,718
Fire Protection
$512
$832
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,186
Education
$21,342
$19,019
Public Welfare
$2,071
$1,311
Health
$426
$519
Hospitals
$1,036
$5,390
Parks & Recreation
$1,574
$1,601
Housing
$2,788
$3,939
Sewerage
$140
$96
Utilities
$3,523
$5,495
Other
$7,978
$9,773
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Norfolk, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health

Compare More Cities