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

Virginia Beach, VA vs Richmond, VA

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

Summary

Richmond spends 31.1% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($19,146/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
Richmond, VA
Pop. 227,171
D
45/100
Budget Balance58
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Virginia Beach
Richmond
Total Spending
$19.5B
$14.0B
Spending / Capita
$42,515
$61,661
Total Revenue
$14.6B
$17.5B
Revenue / Capita
$31,808
$77,122
Total Debt
$135.8M
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$297
$1,304
Population
457,900
227,171
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Virginia Beach$1,126
Richmond$2,108
Fire Protection
Virginia Beach$512
Richmond$921
Highways & Roads
Virginia Beach$0
Richmond$738
Parks & Recreation
Virginia Beach$1,574
Richmond$1,154
Education
Virginia Beach$21,342
Richmond$20,033
Health
Virginia Beach$426
Richmond$341

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachRichmond
Sales Tax
$673
$930
Income Tax
$831
$879
Intergovernmental
$31,808
$3,985
Charges & Fees
$1,462
$3,949
Other
$3,301
$7,690

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachRichmond
Police
$1,126
$2,108
Fire Protection
$512
$921
Highways & Roads
$0
$738
Education
$21,342
$20,033
Public Welfare
$2,071
$1,535
Health
$426
$341
Hospitals
$1,036
$3,770
Parks & Recreation
$1,574
$1,154
Housing
$2,788
$5,951
Sewerage
$140
$17
Utilities
$3,523
$7,265
Interest on Debt
$0
$3,048
Other
$7,978
$14,781
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Richmond, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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