Council Bluffs, IA vs Sioux City, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Council Bluffs, IA and Sioux City, IA spend within 13.4% of each other per resident — $17,662 versus $15,576 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Sioux City, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 43/100 (grade D) for Council Bluffs, IA — a 32-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Sioux City, IA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Council Bluffs, IA carries $994 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Council Bluffs, IA at $1,587 per resident and in Sioux City, IA at $1,182.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 24% of total revenue in Council Bluffs, IA and 26% in Sioux City, IA.
Summary
Council Bluffs spends 13.4% more per capita than Sioux City ($2,086/person difference). Sioux City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $234 | $237 |
| Income Tax | $1,036 | $681 |
| Intergovernmental | $383 | $2,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,374 | $2,603 |
| Other | $3,427 | $8,608 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $850 | $19 |
| Highways & Roads | $373 | $76 |
| Education | $0 | $61 |
| Public Welfare | $1,494 | $1,359 |
| Health | $562 | $413 |
| Hospitals | $138 | $1,296 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,587 | $1,182 |
| Housing | $3,385 | $2,881 |
| Sewerage | $181 | $285 |
| Utilities | $3,119 | $3,339 |
| Interest on Debt | $278 | $0 |
| Other | $5,695 | $4,665 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.