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

Ankeny, IA vs Ames, IA

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

Summary

Ames spends 77.8% 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
Ankeny, IA
Pop. 68,392
C
61/100
Budget Balance65
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Ames, IA
Pop. 66,265
F
34/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden13
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

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

Per Capita Spending by Department

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

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

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