Washington, DC vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Washington, DC outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $243,341 versus $15,793, a 1441% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 41/100 (grade D) for Washington, DC — a 26-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 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 Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Washington, DC and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Washington spends 1440.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($227,548/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $25 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $991 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $141 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $18,754 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,070 | $2,998 |
| Other | $11,518 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,183 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $4,262 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,435 | $86 |
| Education | $53,224 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $2,498 | $507 |
| Health | $1,009 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $17,668 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $5,459 | $652 |
| Housing | $10,296 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $2,881 | $388 |
| Utilities | $88,990 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $58 | $1,760 |
| General Admin | $3,225 | $0 |
| Other | $48,155 | $3,878 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.