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

Washington, DC vs Baltimore, MD

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

Summary

Washington spends 258.2% more per capita than Baltimore ($175,406/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

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
Baltimore, MD
Pop. 584,548
B
70/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Washington
Baltimore
Total Spending
$163.2B
$39.7B
Spending / Capita
$243,341
$67,935
Total Revenue
$186.2B
$41.3B
Revenue / Capita
$277,701
$70,679
Total Debt
$1.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,516
$0
Population
670,587
584,548
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Washington$4,183
Baltimore$820
Fire Protection
Washington$4,262
Baltimore$1,214
Highways & Roads
Washington$1,435
Baltimore$676
Parks & Recreation
Washington$5,459
Baltimore$384
Education
Washington$53,224
Baltimore$35,510
Health
Washington$1,009
Baltimore$757

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonBaltimore
Property Tax
$25
$84
Sales Tax
$991
$55
Income Tax
$141
$375
Intergovernmental
$18,754
$5,085
Charges & Fees
$4,070
$2,192
Other
$11,518
$4,765

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonBaltimore
Police
$4,183
$820
Fire Protection
$4,262
$1,214
Highways & Roads
$1,435
$676
Education
$53,224
$35,510
Public Welfare
$2,498
$714
Health
$1,009
$757
Hospitals
$17,668
$1,877
Parks & Recreation
$5,459
$384
Housing
$10,296
$4,087
Sewerage
$2,881
$87
Utilities
$88,990
$3,809
Interest on Debt
$58
$0
General Admin
$3,225
$19
Other
$48,155
$17,981
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities