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

Washington, DC vs Bakersfield, CA

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

Summary

Washington spends 2002.2% more per capita than Bakersfield ($231,765/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Washington
Bakersfield
Total Spending
$163.2B
$4.7B
Spending / Capita
$243,341
$11,576
Total Revenue
$186.2B
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$277,701
$3,862
Total Debt
$1.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,516
$0
Population
670,587
404,321
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Washington$4,183
Bakersfield$0
Fire Protection
Washington$4,262
Bakersfield$0
Highways & Roads
Washington$1,435
Bakersfield$0
Parks & Recreation
Washington$5,459
Bakersfield$741
Education
Washington$53,224
Bakersfield$0
Health
Washington$1,009
Bakersfield$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonBakersfield
Property Tax
$25
$1
Sales Tax
$991
$20
Income Tax
$141
$1,909
Intergovernmental
$18,754
$3,862
Charges & Fees
$4,070
$1,024
Other
$11,518
$1,915

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonBakersfield
Police
$4,183
$0
Fire Protection
$4,262
$0
Highways & Roads
$1,435
$0
Education
$53,224
$0
Public Welfare
$2,498
$840
Health
$1,009
$0
Hospitals
$17,668
$425
Parks & Recreation
$5,459
$741
Housing
$10,296
$3,391
Sewerage
$2,881
$265
Utilities
$88,990
$2,679
Interest on Debt
$58
$0
General Admin
$3,225
$0
Other
$48,155
$3,234
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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