Winston-Salem, NC vs Fayetteville, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Fayetteville, NC and Winston-Salem, NC spend within 12.0% of each other per resident — $14,049 versus $12,544 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Winston-Salem, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 89/100 (grade A) against 70/100 (grade B) for Fayetteville, NC — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Winston-Salem, NC reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Fayetteville, NC carries $1,749 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Winston-Salem, NC at $801 per resident and in Fayetteville, NC at $1,062.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Winston-Salem, NC at 9% of total revenue, whereas Fayetteville, NC relies most on charges and fees at 9%.
Summary
Fayetteville spends 10.7% more per capita than Winston-Salem ($1,505/person difference). Winston-Salem, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 89/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $297 | $124 |
| Income Tax | $521 | $717 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,560 | $1,555 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,604 | $3,488 |
| Other | $3,138 | $3,474 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $207 | $196 |
| Public Welfare | $632 | $378 |
| Hospitals | $875 | $319 |
| Parks & Recreation | $801 | $1,062 |
| Housing | $3,260 | $2,914 |
| Sewerage | $180 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,767 | $3,100 |
| Interest on Debt | $865 | $628 |
| Other | $2,959 | $5,454 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.