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

Cedar Rapids, IA vs West Des Moines, IA

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

Summary

Cedar Rapids spends 62.2% more per capita than West Des Moines ($9,194/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.

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
West Des Moines, IA
Pop. 68,744
C
53/100
Budget Balance51
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency84
Revenue Diversity71
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Cedar Rapids
West Des Moines
Total Spending
$3.3B
$1.0B
Spending / Capita
$23,973
$14,779
Total Revenue
$5.1B
$2.4B
Revenue / Capita
$37,389
$35,361
Total Debt
$190.4M
$140.9M
Debt / Capita
$1,391
$2,050
Population
136,929
68,744
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Cedar Rapids$466
West Des Moines$240
Highways & Roads
Cedar Rapids$102
West Des Moines$49
Parks & Recreation
Cedar Rapids$1,165
West Des Moines$1,257
Education
Cedar Rapids$0
West Des Moines$3
Health
Cedar Rapids$567
West Des Moines$615

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Cedar RapidsWest Des Moines
Property Tax
$8
$24
Sales Tax
$2,450
$677
Income Tax
$1,513
$355
Intergovernmental
$5,898
$16,920
Charges & Fees
$3,261
$2,669
Other
$4,807
$3,239

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Cedar RapidsWest Des Moines
Fire Protection
$466
$240
Highways & Roads
$102
$49
Education
$0
$3
Public Welfare
$1,987
$1,500
Health
$567
$615
Hospitals
$612
$290
Parks & Recreation
$1,165
$1,257
Housing
$4,126
$2,213
Sewerage
$314
$194
Utilities
$4,004
$669
Interest on Debt
$737
$0
Other
$9,894
$7,750
C
Cedar Rapids, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
West Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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