Updated April 2026 · U.S. Census Bureau data
Total Spending Per Capita
This ranking compares 684 U.S. cities by total spending per capita. Higher values rank worse. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances. Always read a single ranking with the rest of a city's profile, no one number tells the full fiscal story.
Related Rankings
Top 100 Cities by Total Spending Per Capita
Showing top 100 of 684 cities
What the Numbers Show
At the top of the ranking, Santa Clara, CA posts $807,303, with Alameda, CA close behind at $637,110. At the other end, Scottsdale, AZ sits at $21. The spread between top and bottom in this metric reflects real differences in service mix, peer-group cost structure, and policy priorities, not just budget size.
Per-capita figures can be sensitive to population estimates: a city whose American Community Survey count is undercounting recent growth will look like an outlier-high spender. Where rankings rely on payroll, employee counts, or pension data, the input dataset is noted in the FAQ. Always pair a single ranking with the underlying city profile before drawing fiscal-health conclusions.
Methodology
Per-capita figures divide the relevant Census-reported expenditure or revenue line by American Community Survey population estimates. Per-capita ratios are most useful inside a population peer group; comparing a 60,000-resident city to a 600,000-resident city directly can mislead because larger cities run more services and absorb regional commuters. For full methodology and weight-by-weight breakdown of the composite Fiscal Health Score, see the methodology page. Underlying datasets include the Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the Lincoln Institute's Fiscally Standardized Cities for the 150 largest cities, and best-practice guidance from the Government Finance Officers Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total spending per capita ranking?
This ranking compares 684 U.S. cities by total spending per capita. Higher values rank worse. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances. Always read a single ranking with the rest of a city's profile, no one number tells the full fiscal story. Santa Clara, CA currently leads the ranking at $807,303.
Where does the data come from?
Every figure traces back to U.S. Census Bureau primary data: the Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances for spending and revenue, and the American Community Survey for population estimates used to compute per-capita ratios. Pension data, where used, comes from the Public Plans Database; federal grant flows come from USASpending.gov.
How often is the ranking updated?
The Census Bureau publishes the Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances roughly 18 months after the close of the fiscal year. CitySpend rebuilds the rankings whenever new Census microdata is released, typically once a year. The current data reflects the most recent Census release available at the page-update time shown above.
Is being ranked low always bad?
Not always. A high per-capita spending or debt figure can reflect deferred-maintenance catch-up, strong investment in parks and infrastructure, or the city operating services other cities outsource. Always read the city profile and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (ACFR) before drawing conclusions.
How is this metric calculated?
Per-capita figures divide the relevant Census-reported expenditure or revenue line by American Community Survey population estimates. Per-capita ratios are most useful inside a population peer group; comparing a 60,000-resident city to a 600,000-resident city directly can mislead because larger cities run more services and absorb regional commuters.
This ranking compares 684 U.S. cities by total spending per capita. Higher values rank worse. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances. Always read a single ranking with the rest of a city's profile, no one number tells the full fiscal story.