Ames, IA vs West Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Ames, IA outspends West Des Moines, IA by a wide margin per resident — $44,915 versus $14,779, a 204% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
West Des Moines, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 53/100 (grade C) against 34/100 (grade F) for Ames, IA — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Ames, IA carries the lighter load at $680 per resident versus $2,050 for West Des Moines, IA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Ames, IA leads with health at $765 per resident, while West Des Moines, IA leads with parks and recreation at $1,257.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 10% of total revenue in Ames, IA and 48% in West Des Moines, IA.
Summary
Ames spends 203.9% more per capita than West Des Moines ($30,136/person difference). West Des Moines, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $24 |
| Sales Tax | $413 | $677 |
| Income Tax | $648 | $355 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,359 | $16,920 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,979 | $2,669 |
| Other | $2,187 | $3,239 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $155 | $240 |
| Highways & Roads | $61 | $49 |
| Education | $41 | $3 |
| Public Welfare | $3,950 | $1,500 |
| Health | $765 | $615 |
| Hospitals | $83 | $290 |
| Parks & Recreation | $648 | $1,257 |
| Housing | $1,535 | $2,213 |
| Sewerage | $268 | $194 |
| Utilities | $2,103 | $669 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,924 | $0 |
| General Admin | $30,834 | $0 |
| Other | $2,548 | $7,750 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.