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Two lenses on the same set of places. Capacity readings are construct-based judgments — a band with its confidence and the evidence behind it, never ranked into a single winner. Structural facts are the comparable hard numbers, with percentiles. Add any number of places to begin.
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Sort and filter every city and county on any structural ratio. Ranking observable ratios is fair game — only the latent capacity readings above are never ranked into one number.
| Rank | Place | Budget / capita↓ | Budget / sq mi | FTE / 1k residents | Total budget | Population | Departments | Spend / resident | Own-source share | Federal share | Debt / resident | Capital share | Innovation markers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Government of the District of ColumbiaDC · consolidated | $29,494 | $308.8M | 50.6 | $21.0B | 712,000 | 60 | $32,704 | 62% | 33.4% | $28,409 | 11% | 6 / 7 |
| #2 | City and County of San FranciscoCA · consolidated | $17,284 | $297.9M | 43.2 | $14.0B | 810,000 | 50 | $27,288 | 76% | 5.5% | $31,933 | 12% | 6 / 7 |
| #3 | City of New YorkNY · consolidated | $15,091 | $416.6M | 36.0 | $125.8B | 8,336,000 | 80 | $18,485 | 74% | 9.3% | $16,465 | 11% | 6 / 7 |
| #4 | City of PortlandOR · city | $13,444 | $58.9M | 12.6 | $8.54B | 635,000 | 28 | $4,074 | 86% | 6.8% | $4,916 | 21% | 5 / 7 |
| #5 | City of Myrtle BeachSC · city | $10,670 | $14.8M | 25.0 | $384.1M | 36,000 | 12 | $8,852 | 92% | 1.3% | $7,263 | 15% | 1 / 7 |
| #6 | City of SeattleWA · city | $10,400 | $54.9M | 15.3 | $7.80B | 750,000 | 30 | $7,611 | 90% | 4.0% | $7,889 | 18% | 7 / 7 |
| #7 | City of Long BeachCA · city | $8,772 | $78.4M | 13.2 | $4.00B | 456,000 | 22 | $5,916 | 81% | 8.9% | $6,930 | 18% | 6 / 7 |
| #8 | City of BaltimoreMD · city | $8,522 | $53.3M | 22.6 | $4.90B | 575,000 | 30 | $10,055 | 57% | 7.1% | $7,397 | 13% | 5 / 7 |
| #9 | City of BostonMA · city | $7,259 | $54.4M | 26.7 | $4.90B | 675,000 | 50 | $10,128 | 73% | 0.4% | $3,542 | 14% | 7 / 7 |
| #10 | City of AustinTX · city | $6,769 | $20.2M | 16.4 | $6.60B | 975,000 | 36 | $5,753 | 94% | 3.6% | $7,164 | 22% | 7 / 7 |
| #11 | City of AtlantaGA · city | $6,275 | $23.9M | 16.7 | $3.20B | 510,000 | 25 | $5,426 | 79% | 3.8% | $17,934 | 4% | 5 / 7 |
| #12 | City of ChicagoIL · city | $6,194 | $71.4M | 11.9 | $16.7B | 2,696,000 | 35 | $5,825 | 80% | 7.8% | $10,324 | 10% | 6 / 7 |
| #13 | City of Virginia BeachVA · city | $5,921 | $10.9M | 16.4 | $2.70B | 456,000 | 20 | $5,746 | 71% | 1.8% | $3,759 | 17% | 5 / 7 |
| #14 | City of TallahasseeFL · city | $5,900 | $12.3M | 14.2 | $1.21B | 205,089 | 15 | $5,339 | 68% | 10.5% | $4,274 | 9% | 4 / 7 |
| #15 | Palm Beach CountyFL · county | $5,696 | $4.42M | 8.1 | $9.00B | 1,580,000 | 25 | $2,085 | 85% | 3.1% | $579 | 12% | 2 / 7 |
| #16 | City and County of DenverCO · consolidated | $5,594 | $25.8M | 18.2 | $4.00B | 715,000 | 35 | $7,841 | 90% | 2.1% | $12,637 | 30% | 7 / 7 |
| #17 | City of San JoseCA · city | $5,155 | $27.8M | 7.2 | $5.00B | 970,000 | 22 | $3,284 | 89% | 2.2% | $3,862 | 13% | 7 / 7 |
| #18 | City of OaklandCA · city | $5,116 | $28.2M | 10.5 | $2.20B | 430,000 | 25 | $5,006 | 89% | 4.7% | $3,481 | 12% | 4 / 7 |
| #19 | City of CharlotteNC · city | $5,045 | $14.5M | 9.0 | $4.49B | 890,000 | 14 | $3,880 | 83% | 10.1% | $5,740 | 40% | 6 / 7 |
| #20 | City of BoulderCO · city | $4,824 | $19.3M | 14.0 | $521.0M | 108,000 | 18 | $3,943 | 96% | 0.5% | $2,202 | 18% | 6 / 7 |
| #21 | City of TampaFL · city | $4,810 | $10.9M | 11.1 | $1.90B | 395,000 | 18 | $4,634 | 86% | 5.2% | $3,448 | 22% | 5 / 7 |
| #22 | City of DetroitMI · city | $4,739 | $21.6M | 14.2 | $3.00B | 633,000 | 29 | $4,942 | 61% | 24.0% | $4,363 | 12% | 5 / 7 |
| #23 | City of FresnoCA · city | $4,697 | $22.3M | 7.7 | $2.56B | 545,000 | 18 | $3,081 | 75% | 8.1% | $1,839 | 22% | 3 / 7 |
| #24 | Miami-Dade CountyFL · consolidated | $4,660 | $6.80M | 11.3 | $13.2B | 2,840,000 | 45 | $4,425 | 82% | 11.9% | $7,377 | 12% | 5 / 7 |
| #25 | Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson CountyTN · consolidated | $4,392 | $5.70M | 16.1 | $3.00B | 683,000 | 30 | $9,448 | 77% | 6.4% | $16,121 | 18% | 5 / 7 |
| #26 | City of MesaAZ · city | $4,314 | $15.9M | 8.2 | $2.20B | 510,000 | 18 | $2,550 | 84% | 0.0% | $3,641 | 15% | 6 / 7 |
| #27 | City of MinneapolisMN · city | $4,186 | $31.0M | 9.8 | $1.80B | 430,000 | 22 | $2,782 | 78% | 8.2% | $1,956 | 7% | 6 / 7 |
| #28 | City of AkronOH · city | $4,177 | $12.7M | 10.6 | $785.2M | 188,000 | 15 | $2,537 | 80% | 0.0% | $6,373 | 2% | 3 / 7 |
| #29 | City of New OrleansLA · consolidated | $4,167 | $8.88M | 12.5 | $1.50B | 360,000 | 25 | $6,502 | 59% | 20.8% | $1,674 | 28% | 5 / 7 |
| #30 | City of PhiladelphiaPA · consolidated | $4,129 | $45.1M | 19.4 | $6.40B | 1,550,000 | 50 | $8,447 | 66% | 11.5% | $4,388 | 6% | 6 / 7 |
| #31 | City of San DiegoCA · city | $3,913 | $14.5M | 8.0 | $5.40B | 1,380,000 | 25 | $5,099 | 82% | 14.3% | $4,266 | 27% | 6 / 7 |
| #32 | City of TucsonAZ · city | $3,853 | $8.71M | 8.3 | $2.10B | 545,000 | 20 | $2,316 | 56% | 17.9% | $1,909 | 10% | 3 / 7 |
| #33 | City of Kansas CityMO · city | $3,725 | $5.96M | 8.2 | $1.90B | 510,000 | 22 | $4,426 | 82% | 11.9% | $9,638 | 23% | 5 / 7 |
| #34 | City of Grand ForksND · city | $3,718 | $10.5M | 9.3 | $220.0M | 59,166 | 14 | $2,073 | 71% | 7.1% | $3,956 | 21% | 4 / 7 |
| #35 | City of DallasTX · city | $3,692 | $14.0M | 10.0 | $4.80B | 1,300,000 | 28 | $4,212 | 90% | 8.8% | $9,927 | 26% | 5 / 7 |
| #36 | City of RaleighNC · city | $3,640 | $11.9M | 9.3 | $1.77B | 485,000 | 15 | $2,704 | 81% | 7.3% | $3,303 | 34% | 5 / 7 |
| #37 | City of PhoenixAZ · city | $3,515 | $11.2M | 8.5 | $5.80B | 1,650,000 | 30 | $2,671 | 69% | 9.4% | $4,323 | 16% | 6 / 7 |
| #38 | City of OmahaNE · city | $3,469 | $11.7M | 9.2 | $1.70B | 490,000 | 18 | $2,118 | 89% | 0.0% | $3,051 | 28% | 4 / 7 |
| #39 | City of BradentonFL · city | $3,437 | $14.3M | 9.9 | $200.0M | 58,184 | 10 | $1,499 | 82% | 1.6% | $773 | 10% | 1 / 7 |
| #40 | City of Los AngelesCA · city | $3,429 | $26.0M | 13.1 | $13.1B | 3,820,000 | 40 | $5,919 | 87% | 4.0% | $10,297 | 17% | 7 / 7 |
| #41 | City of MiamiFL · city | $3,409 | $26.8M | 9.3 | $1.50B | 440,000 | 18 | $3,525 | 81% | 9.1% | $893 | 7% | 5 / 7 |
| #42 | City of MilwaukeeWI · city | $3,393 | $19.8M | 11.6 | $1.90B | 560,000 | 30 | $2,426 | 57% | 15.3% | $2,780 | 9% | 5 / 7 |
| #43 | City of ColumbiaSC · city | $3,162 | $3.21M | 16.2 | $430.0M | 136,000 | 15 | $3,595 | 75% | 4.3% | $6,809 | 25% | 3 / 7 |
| #44 | City of Oklahoma CityOK · city | $3,050 | $3.41M | 7.9 | $2.12B | 695,000 | 25 | $2,795 | 89% | 3.7% | $3,869 | 30% | 5 / 7 |
| #45 | City of TulsaOK · city | $2,993 | $6.26M | 8.5 | $1.23B | 410,000 | 18 | $3,051 | 90% | 6.9% | $3,003 | 29% | 4 / 7 |
| #46 | Macon-Bibb CountyGA · consolidated | $2,930 | $1.81M | 12.0 | $460.0M | 157,000 | 31 | $2,242 | 50% | 9.4% | $700 | 13% | 5 / 7 |
| #47 | Lexington-Fayette Urban County GovernmentKY · consolidated | $2,908 | $3.29M | 10.9 | $938.0M | 322,570 | 16 | $2,751 | 85% | 7.6% | $3,002 | 26% | 5 / 7 |
| #48 | City of Saint PaulMN · city | $2,858 | $15.8M | 9.7 | $883.0M | 309,000 | 16 | $3,553 | 68% | 15.5% | $2,998 | 20% | 5 / 7 |
| #49 | City of SacramentoCA · city | $2,857 | $15.0M | 9.1 | $1.50B | 525,000 | 22 | $4,146 | 88% | 6.2% | $3,444 | 16% | 5 / 7 |
| #50 | City of HoustonTX · city | $2,696 | $9.32M | 9.6 | $6.20B | 2,300,000 | 22 | $2,966 | 84% | 6.5% | $5,400 | 21% | 5 / 7 |
| #51 | City of Las VegasNV · city | $2,576 | $12.1M | 4.8 | $1.70B | 660,000 | 18 | $2,049 | 49% | 4.5% | $860 | 30% | 4 / 7 |
| #53 | City of AberdeenSD · city | $2,500 | $5.00M | 8.9 | $70.0M | 28,000 | 10 | $2,146 | 76% | 18.9% | $143 | 0% | 1 / 7 |
| #52 | City of AlbuquerqueNM · city | $2,500 | $7.45M | 12.1 | $1.40B | 560,000 | 22 | $2,393 | 85% | 6.0% | $2,477 | 7% | 6 / 7 |
| #54 | City of San AntonioTX · city | $2,475 | $7.34M | 8.7 | $3.70B | 1,495,000 | 28 | $4,993 | 85% | 2.6% | $9,460 | 26% | 5 / 7 |
| #55 | City of Fort WorthTX · city | $2,268 | $6.29M | 7.7 | $2.20B | 970,000 | 24 | $2,602 | 92% | 4.5% | $2,975 | 25% | 5 / 7 |
| #56 | City of WichitaKS · city | $2,077 | $5.01M | 7.1 | $825.9M | 397,532 | 18 | $2,365 | 78% | 0.0% | $3,617 | 40% | 5 / 7 |
| #57 | City of El PasoTX · city | $2,068 | $5.47M | 9.6 | $1.40B | 677,000 | 22 | $2,498 | 87% | 9.3% | $4,641 | 38% | 3 / 7 |
| #58 | City of JacksonvilleFL · consolidated | $1,949 | $2.17M | 8.2 | $1.90B | 975,000 | 22 | $5,974 | 76% | 6.2% | $5,226 | 21% | 4 / 7 |
| #59 | Columbus Consolidated GovernmentGA · consolidated | $1,913 | $1.79M | 14.6 | $394.0M | 206,000 | 13 | $2,532 | 64% | 5.4% | $2,196 | 21% | 2 / 7 |
| #60 | City of ArlingtonTX · city | $1,900 | $7.58M | 7.1 | $750.7M | 395,000 | 16 | $2,042 | 91% | 7.1% | $5,997 | 20% | 4 / 7 |
| #61 | City of Colorado SpringsCO · city | $1,870 | $4.65M | 5.8 | $907.0M | 485,000 | 18 | $4,710 | 90% | 8.7% | $5,614 | 42% | 3 / 7 |
| #62 | Borough of State CollegePA · city | $1,835 | $14.7M | 4.3 | $73.4M | 40,000 | 9 | $1,403 | 87% | 6.7% | $651 | 12% | 1 / 7 |
| #63 | City of MilledgevilleGA · city | $1,765 | $1.76M | 11.8 | $30.0M | 17,000 | 8 | $872 | 82% | 0.0% | $711 | 0% | 0 / 7 |
| #64 | Louisville Metro GovernmentKY · consolidated | $1,760 | $2.89M | 9.6 | $1.10B | 625,000 | 22 | $3,741 | 80% | 9.2% | $5,708 | 36% | 5 / 7 |
| #65 | City of IndianapolisIN · consolidated | $1,705 | $4.08M | 9.1 | $1.50B | 880,000 | 22 | $6,777 | 75% | 1.1% | $7,202 | 12% | 5 / 7 |
| #66 | City of BiloxiMS · city | $1,600 | $2.05M | 16.0 | $80.0M | 50,000 | 11 | $2,793 | 47% | 14.1% | $1,644 | 30% | 0 / 7 |
| #67 | City of ColumbusOH · city | $1,311 | $5.36M | 9.3 | $1.20B | 915,000 | 25 | $3,172 | 87% | 8.4% | — | 23% | 6 / 7 |
| #68 | City of MemphisTN · city | $1,290 | $2.47M | 10.5 | $800.0M | 620,000 | 20 | $5,192 | 65% | 3.2% | $2,811 | 6% | 3 / 7 |
| #69 | City of DuluthMN · city | $1,279 | $1.26M | 10.5 | $110.0M | 86,000 | 12 | $4,873 | 65% | 12.1% | $1,337 | 13% | 3 / 7 |
| #70 | City of GaryIN · city | $979 | $1.32M | 5.2 | $66.0M | 67,425 | 12 | $3,411 | 81% | 5.8% | $2,784 | 5% | 1 / 7 |
| #71 | City of Fort WayneIN · city | $889 | $2.18M | 7.8 | $240.0M | 270,000 | 14 | $1,618 | 75% | 12.2% | $2,396 | 19% | 3 / 7 |
Click a column header to sort by that ratio; click a row to open its full assessment. Rank and percentile reflect the operating budget per capita column, computed across all entities that report it — blank (—) cells are excluded from ranking rather than counted as zero.