Wichita, KS vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Phoenix, AZ outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $15,793 versus $7,986, a 98% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Wichita, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Phoenix, AZ — a 23-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Wichita, KS carries the lighter load at $132 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Wichita, KS at $874 per resident and in Phoenix, AZ at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 14% of total revenue in Wichita, KS and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Phoenix spends 49.4% more per capita than Wichita ($7,807/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $246 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $57 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,895 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,193 | $2,998 |
| Other | $2,783 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $152 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $126 | $86 |
| Education | $2 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $441 | $507 |
| Health | $254 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $113 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $874 | $652 |
| Housing | $2,618 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $388 |
| Utilities | $1,225 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $70 | $1,760 |
| Other | $2,111 | $3,878 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.