Casper, WY vs Cheyenne, WY
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Casper, WY and Cheyenne, WY spend within 5.7% of each other per resident — $17,532 versus $16,585 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Casper, WY holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 51/100 (grade C) against 40/100 (grade D) for Cheyenne, WY — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Casper, WY carries the lighter load at $205 per resident versus $840 for Cheyenne, WY. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Casper, WY at $1,478 per resident and in Cheyenne, WY at $1,693.
They also fund themselves differently: income tax is the largest single revenue source in Casper, WY at 103% of total revenue, whereas Cheyenne, WY relies most on charges and fees at 47%.
Summary
Casper spends 5.7% more per capita than Cheyenne ($947/person difference). Casper, WY has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $618 | $863 |
| Income Tax | $2,872 | $3,081 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,409 | $135 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,519 | $5,012 |
| Other | $1,630 | $2,843 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $42 |
| Fire Protection | $337 | $225 |
| Highways & Roads | $403 | $345 |
| Education | $67 | $67 |
| Public Welfare | $733 | $1,931 |
| Hospitals | $277 | $243 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,478 | $1,693 |
| Housing | $3,068 | $2,369 |
| Sewerage | $238 | $249 |
| Utilities | $5,419 | $4,101 |
| Other | $5,512 | $5,320 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.