Virginia Beach, VA vs Portsmouth, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Portsmouth, VA and Virginia Beach, VA spend within 9.9% of each other per resident — $46,704 versus $42,515 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Portsmouth, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 28-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Portsmouth, VA 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 Portsmouth, VA at $20,569.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Virginia Beach, VA at 100% of total revenue, whereas Portsmouth, VA relies most on other revenue at 4%.
Summary
Portsmouth spends 9.0% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($4,189/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $673 | $291 |
| Income Tax | $831 | $2,119 |
| Intergovernmental | $31,808 | $12 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,462 | $2,606 |
| Other | $3,301 | $2,972 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,126 | $1,848 |
| Fire Protection | $512 | $450 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $954 |
| Education | $21,342 | $20,569 |
| Public Welfare | $2,071 | $1,406 |
| Health | $426 | $270 |
| Hospitals | $1,036 | $3,784 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,574 | $1,573 |
| Housing | $2,788 | $3,282 |
| Sewerage | $140 | $298 |
| Utilities | $3,523 | $4,446 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $63 |
| Other | $7,978 | $7,760 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.