Virginia Beach, VA vs Washington, DC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Washington, DC outspends Virginia Beach, VA by a wide margin per resident — $243,341 versus $42,515, a 472% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Virginia Beach, VA edges Washington, DC on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 47/100 (grade D) to 41/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $2,516 for Washington, DC. 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 Washington, DC at $53,224.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Virginia Beach, VA and 7% in Washington, DC.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.