Washington, DC vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Washington, DC outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $243,341 versus $22,111, a 1001% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 41/100 (grade D) for Washington, DC — a 24-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $2,516 for Washington, DC. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Washington, DC leads with education at $53,224 per resident, while Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Washington, DC and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
Washington spends 1000.6% more per capita than Memphis ($221,230/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $25 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $991 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $141 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $18,754 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,070 | $2,077 |
| Other | $11,518 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,183 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $4,262 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,435 | $277 |
| Education | $53,224 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $2,498 | $630 |
| Health | $1,009 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $17,668 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $5,459 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $10,296 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $2,881 | $0 |
| Utilities | $88,990 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $58 | $1,158 |
| General Admin | $3,225 | $0 |
| Other | $48,155 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.