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

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Waterloo, IA

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

Summary

Cedar Rapids spends 34.7% more per capita than Waterloo ($6,171/person difference). Waterloo, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 71/100).

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
Waterloo, IA
Pop. 67,256
B
71/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden28
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency65
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Cedar Rapids
Waterloo
Total Spending
$3.3B
$1.2B
Spending / Capita
$23,973
$17,802
Total Revenue
$5.1B
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$37,389
$23,537
Total Debt
$190.4M
$40.7M
Debt / Capita
$1,391
$605
Population
136,929
67,256
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Cedar Rapids$466
Waterloo$223
Highways & Roads
Cedar Rapids$102
Waterloo$108
Parks & Recreation
Cedar Rapids$1,165
Waterloo$1,325
Education
Cedar Rapids$0
Waterloo$10
Health
Cedar Rapids$567
Waterloo$431

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Cedar RapidsWaterloo
Property Tax
$8
$59
Sales Tax
$2,450
$677
Income Tax
$1,513
$920
Intergovernmental
$5,898
$2,021
Charges & Fees
$3,261
$1,614
Other
$4,807
$3,969

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Cedar RapidsWaterloo
Fire Protection
$466
$223
Highways & Roads
$102
$108
Education
$0
$10
Public Welfare
$1,987
$2,637
Health
$567
$431
Hospitals
$612
$1,864
Parks & Recreation
$1,165
$1,325
Housing
$4,126
$3,169
Sewerage
$314
$205
Utilities
$4,004
$1,874
Interest on Debt
$737
$0
Other
$9,894
$5,957
C
Cedar Rapids, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
B
Waterloo, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 71/100
Good fiscal health

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