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

Carmel, IN vs South Bend, IN

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

Summary

South Bend spends 54.1% more per capita than Carmel ($19,330/person difference). Carmel, IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Carmel, IN
Pop. 99,453
C
56/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency74
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
South Bend, IN
Pop. 103,084
D
48/100
Budget Balance33
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Carmel
South Bend
Total Spending
$1.6B
$3.7B
Spending / Capita
$16,389
$35,719
Total Revenue
$9.0B
$1.9B
Revenue / Capita
$90,764
$18,281
Total Debt
$84.1M
$29.7M
Debt / Capita
$846
$288
Population
99,453
103,084
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Carmel$166
South Bend$2,100
Highways & Roads
Carmel$354
South Bend$2
Parks & Recreation
Carmel$1,484
South Bend$1,973

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

CarmelSouth Bend
Property Tax
$0
$10
Sales Tax
$1,264
$759
Income Tax
$0
$955
Intergovernmental
$90,764
$18,281
Charges & Fees
$5,500
$2,775
Other
$2,404
$6,625

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

CarmelSouth Bend
Fire Protection
$166
$2,100
Highways & Roads
$354
$2
Public Welfare
$1,885
$1,509
Hospitals
$1,121
$800
Parks & Recreation
$1,484
$1,973
Housing
$2,696
$2,520
Sewerage
$0
$348
Utilities
$1,251
$1,910
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,088
Other
$7,432
$23,468
C
Carmel, IN
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
D
South Bend, IN
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health

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