Winston-Salem, NC vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Raleigh, NC and Winston-Salem, NC spend within 10.9% of each other per resident — $13,911 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 76/100 (grade B) for Raleigh, NC — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Winston-Salem, NC reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Raleigh, NC carries $906 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 Raleigh, NC at $1,391.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Winston-Salem, NC at 9% of total revenue, whereas Raleigh, NC relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 47%.
Summary
Raleigh spends 9.8% more per capita than Winston-Salem ($1,367/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 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $521 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,560 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,604 | $2,681 |
| Other | $3,138 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $207 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $448 |
| Education | $0 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $632 | $498 |
| Hospitals | $875 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $801 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $3,260 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $180 | $281 |
| Utilities | $2,767 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $865 | $1,513 |
| Other | $2,959 | $3,646 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.