Ames, IA vs Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
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
F
34/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden13
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Ames
Des Moines
Total Spending
$3.0B
$277.4M
Spending / Capita
$44,915
$1,302
Total Revenue
$2.1B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$32,201
$0
Total Debt
$45.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$680
$0
Population
66,265
213,164
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Police
Ames$0
Des Moines$134
Fire Protection
Ames$155
Des Moines$55
Highways & Roads
Ames$61
Des Moines$3
Parks & Recreation
Ames$648
Des Moines$0
Education
Ames$41
Des Moines$1
Health
Ames$765
Des Moines$8
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
AmesDes Moines
| 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)
AmesDes Moines
| 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 |
F
Ames, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 34/100
Critical fiscal distress
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health