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

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Des Moines, IA

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

Summary

Cedar Rapids spends 1741.9% more per capita than Des Moines ($22,672/person difference). Des Moines, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pop. 136,929
C
53/100
Budget Balance67
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Des Moines, IA
Pop. 213,164
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Cedar Rapids
Des Moines
Total Spending
$3.3B
$277.4M
Spending / Capita
$23,973
$1,302
Total Revenue
$5.1B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$37,389
$0
Total Debt
$190.4M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,391
$0
Population
136,929
213,164
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Cedar Rapids$0
Des Moines$134
Fire Protection
Cedar Rapids$466
Des Moines$55
Highways & Roads
Cedar Rapids$102
Des Moines$3
Parks & Recreation
Cedar Rapids$1,165
Des Moines$0
Education
Cedar Rapids$0
Des Moines$1
Health
Cedar Rapids$567
Des Moines$8

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Cedar RapidsDes Moines
Property Tax
$8
$0
Sales Tax
$2,450
$8
Income Tax
$1,513
$0
Intergovernmental
$5,898
$0
Charges & Fees
$3,261
$0
Other
$4,807
$38

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Cedar RapidsDes Moines
Police
$0
$134
Fire Protection
$466
$55
Highways & Roads
$102
$3
Education
$0
$1
Public Welfare
$1,987
$388
Health
$567
$8
Hospitals
$612
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,165
$0
Housing
$4,126
$164
Sewerage
$314
$0
Utilities
$4,004
$0
Interest on Debt
$737
$1
Other
$9,894
$547
C
Cedar Rapids, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

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