Bellevue, WA vs Tacoma, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tacoma, WA and Bellevue, WA spend within 8.3% of each other per resident — $23,896 versus $22,065 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Tacoma, WA edges Bellevue, WA on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 61/100 (grade C) to 55/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Bellevue, WA carries the lighter load at $1,741 per resident versus $1,835 for Tacoma, WA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Bellevue, WA leads with parks and recreation at $3,103 per resident, while Tacoma, WA leads with education at $1,396.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 34% of total revenue in Bellevue, WA and 20% in Tacoma, WA.
Summary
Tacoma spends 7.7% more per capita than Bellevue ($1,830/person difference). Tacoma, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1,441 | $131 |
| Sales Tax | $1,282 | $789 |
| Income Tax | $50 | $3,984 |
| Intergovernmental | $8,407 | $17,186 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,003 | $5,236 |
| Other | $8,143 | $6,696 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $162 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $966 | $1,153 |
| Highways & Roads | $80 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $1,396 |
| Public Welfare | $1,774 | $1,807 |
| Health | $0 | $283 |
| Hospitals | $2,517 | $396 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,103 | $1,048 |
| Housing | $3,270 | $4,805 |
| Sewerage | $199 | $798 |
| Utilities | $3,441 | $5,418 |
| Other | $6,553 | $6,793 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.