Wichita, KS vs Tucson, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tucson, AZ outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $15,759 versus $7,986, a 97% 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 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 35-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Wichita, KS carries the lighter load at $132 per resident versus $1,540 for Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ at $1,229.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 14% of total revenue in Wichita, KS and 100% in Tucson, AZ.
Summary
Tucson spends 49.3% more per capita than Wichita ($7,773/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 | $5 |
| Sales Tax | $246 | $309 |
| Income Tax | $57 | $1,107 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,895 | $23,276 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,193 | $4,534 |
| Other | $2,783 | $952 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $152 | $330 |
| Highways & Roads | $126 | $0 |
| Education | $2 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $441 | $1,181 |
| Health | $254 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $113 | $1,314 |
| Parks & Recreation | $874 | $1,229 |
| Housing | $2,618 | $3,091 |
| Utilities | $1,225 | $3,555 |
| Interest on Debt | $70 | $1,735 |
| Other | $2,111 | $3,322 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.