Bellevue, WA vs Federal Way, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bellevue, WA outspends Federal Way, WA by a wide margin per resident — $22,065 versus $7,749, a 185% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Federal Way, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Bellevue, WA — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Federal Way, WA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Bellevue, WA carries $1,741 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Bellevue, WA at $3,103 per resident and in Federal Way, WA at $840.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 34% of total revenue in Bellevue, WA and 43% in Federal Way, WA.
Summary
Bellevue spends 184.8% more per capita than Federal Way ($14,317/person difference). Federal Way, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1,441 | $122 |
| Sales Tax | $1,282 | $220 |
| Income Tax | $50 | $59 |
| Intergovernmental | $8,407 | $1,441 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,003 | $0 |
| Other | $8,143 | $1,369 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $162 | $288 |
| Fire Protection | $966 | $205 |
| Highways & Roads | $80 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,774 | $1,037 |
| Hospitals | $2,517 | $214 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,103 | $840 |
| Housing | $3,270 | $2,945 |
| Sewerage | $199 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,441 | $117 |
| Other | $6,553 | $2,103 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.