Ames, IA vs Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Ames, IA outspends Des Moines, IA by a wide margin per resident — $44,915 versus $1,302, a 3351% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Des Moines, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 55/100 (grade C) against 34/100 (grade F) for Ames, IA — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Des Moines, IA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Ames, IA carries $680 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Ames, IA leads with health at $765 per resident, while Des Moines, IA leads with police at $134.
Summary
Ames spends 3350.9% more per capita than Des Moines ($43,614/person difference). Des Moines, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $413 | $8 |
| Income Tax | $648 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,359 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,979 | $0 |
| Other | $2,187 | $38 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $134 |
| Fire Protection | $155 | $55 |
| Highways & Roads | $61 | $3 |
| Education | $41 | $1 |
| Public Welfare | $3,950 | $388 |
| Health | $765 | $8 |
| Hospitals | $83 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $648 | $0 |
| Housing | $1,535 | $164 |
| Sewerage | $268 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,103 | $0 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,924 | $1 |
| General Admin | $30,834 | $0 |
| Other | $2,548 | $547 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.