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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Virginia Beach, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

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

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

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
Portsmouth, VA
Pop. 97,384
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Virginia Beach
Portsmouth
Total Spending
$19.5B
$4.5B
Spending / Capita
$42,515
$46,704
Total Revenue
$14.6B
$6.4B
Revenue / Capita
$31,808
$66,060
Total Debt
$135.8M
$0
Debt / Capita
$297
$0
Population
457,900
97,384
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Virginia Beach$1,126
Portsmouth$1,848
Fire Protection
Virginia Beach$512
Portsmouth$450
Highways & Roads
Virginia Beach$0
Portsmouth$954
Parks & Recreation
Virginia Beach$1,574
Portsmouth$1,573
Education
Virginia Beach$21,342
Portsmouth$20,569
Health
Virginia Beach$426
Portsmouth$270

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachPortsmouth
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)

Virginia BeachPortsmouth
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
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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