Carmel, IN vs Lafayette, IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Carmel, IN and Lafayette, IN spend within 4.8% of each other per resident — $16,389 versus $15,637 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Lafayette, IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 77/100 (grade B) against 56/100 (grade C) for Carmel, IN — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Lafayette, IN reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Carmel, IN carries $846 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Carmel, IN at $1,484 per resident and in Lafayette, IN at $930.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Carmel, IN and 100% in Lafayette, IN.
Summary
Carmel spends 4.8% more per capita than Lafayette ($752/person difference). Lafayette, IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 77/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,264 | $323 |
| Intergovernmental | $90,764 | $36,145 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,500 | $2,183 |
| Other | $2,404 | $5,635 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $166 | $30 |
| Highways & Roads | $354 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,885 | $472 |
| Hospitals | $1,121 | $83 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,484 | $930 |
| Housing | $2,696 | $2,665 |
| Utilities | $1,251 | $3,776 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,122 |
| Other | $7,432 | $5,559 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.