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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Ames, IA vs Ankeny, IA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Ames spends 350.5% more per capita than Ankeny ($34,945/person difference). Ankeny, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Ames, IA
Pop. 66,265
F
34/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden13
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Ankeny, IA
Pop. 68,392
C
61/100
Budget Balance65
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Ames
Ankeny
Total Spending
$3.0B
$681.9M
Spending / Capita
$44,915
$9,971
Total Revenue
$2.1B
$1.3B
Revenue / Capita
$32,201
$18,405
Total Debt
$45.1M
$89.9M
Debt / Capita
$680
$1,314
Population
66,265
68,392
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Ames$155
Ankeny$146
Highways & Roads
Ames$61
Ankeny$10
Parks & Recreation
Ames$648
Ankeny$1,069
Education
Ames$41
Ankeny$0
Health
Ames$765
Ankeny$379

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

AmesAnkeny
Property Tax
$5
$0
Sales Tax
$413
$527
Income Tax
$648
$0
Intergovernmental
$3,359
$3,337
Charges & Fees
$1,979
$2,633
Other
$2,187
$3,353

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

AmesAnkeny
Fire Protection
$155
$146
Highways & Roads
$61
$10
Education
$41
$0
Public Welfare
$3,950
$957
Health
$765
$379
Hospitals
$83
$4
Parks & Recreation
$648
$1,069
Housing
$1,535
$2,088
Sewerage
$268
$313
Utilities
$2,103
$1,853
Interest on Debt
$1,924
$0
General Admin
$30,834
$0
Other
$2,548
$3,151
F
Ames, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 34/100
Critical fiscal distress
C
Ankeny, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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