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

Virginia Beach, VA vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 82.5% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($200,826/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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Virginia Beach
Washington
Total Spending
$19.5B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$42,515
$243,341
Total Revenue
$14.6B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$31,808
$277,701
Total Debt
$135.8M
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$297
$2,516
Population
457,900
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Virginia Beach$1,126
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
Virginia Beach$512
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
Virginia Beach$0
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
Virginia Beach$1,574
Washington$5,459
Education
Virginia Beach$21,342
Washington$53,224
Health
Virginia Beach$426
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachWashington
Property Tax
$0
$25
Sales Tax
$673
$991
Income Tax
$831
$141
Intergovernmental
$31,808
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$1,462
$4,070
Other
$3,301
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachWashington
Police
$1,126
$4,183
Fire Protection
$512
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,435
Education
$21,342
$53,224
Public Welfare
$2,071
$2,498
Health
$426
$1,009
Hospitals
$1,036
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$1,574
$5,459
Housing
$2,788
$10,296
Sewerage
$140
$2,881
Utilities
$3,523
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$0
$58
General Admin
$0
$3,225
Other
$7,978
$48,155
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

Compare More Cities