Council Bluffs, IA vs Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Council Bluffs, IA outspends Des Moines, IA by a wide margin per resident — $17,662 versus $1,302, a 1257% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Des Moines, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 55/100 (grade C) against 43/100 (grade D) for Council Bluffs, IA — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Des Moines, IA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Council Bluffs, IA carries $994 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Council Bluffs, IA leads with parks and recreation at $1,587 per resident, while Des Moines, IA leads with police at $134.
Summary
Council Bluffs spends 1257.0% more per capita than Des Moines ($16,361/person difference). Des Moines, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $234 | $8 |
| Income Tax | $1,036 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $383 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,374 | $0 |
| Other | $3,427 | $38 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $134 |
| Fire Protection | $850 | $55 |
| Highways & Roads | $373 | $3 |
| Education | $0 | $1 |
| Public Welfare | $1,494 | $388 |
| Health | $562 | $8 |
| Hospitals | $138 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,587 | $0 |
| Housing | $3,385 | $164 |
| Sewerage | $181 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,119 | $0 |
| Interest on Debt | $278 | $1 |
| Other | $5,695 | $547 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.