Columbia, MO vs Independence, MO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbia, MO outspends Independence, MO by a wide margin per resident — $13,757 versus $8,176, a 68% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Independence, MO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 80/100 (grade A) against 71/100 (grade B) for Columbia, MO — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Independence, MO reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbia, MO carries $175 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Columbia, MO at $1,099 per resident and in Independence, MO at $611.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Columbia, MO and 100% in Independence, MO.
Summary
Columbia spends 68.3% more per capita than Independence ($5,582/person difference). Independence, MO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 80/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $668 | $480 |
| Income Tax | $2,110 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,577 | $38,346 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,293 | $2,807 |
| Other | $2,632 | $3,970 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $355 | $39 |
| Public Welfare | $901 | $345 |
| Hospitals | $77 | $406 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,099 | $611 |
| Housing | $1,692 | $2,769 |
| Utilities | $3,124 | $1,599 |
| Interest on Debt | $419 | $0 |
| Other | $6,091 | $2,407 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.