Des Moines, IA vs Ames, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Ames, IA outspends Des Moines, IA by a wide margin per resident — $44,915 versus $1,302, a 3351% 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 34/100 (grade F) for Ames, IA — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Des Moines, IA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Ames, IA carries $680 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Des Moines, IA leads with police at $134 per resident, while Ames, IA leads with health at $765.
Summary
Ames spends 97.1% more per capita than Des Moines ($43,614/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)
| Property Tax | $0 | $5 |
| Sales Tax | $8 | $413 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $648 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $3,359 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,979 |
| Other | $38 | $2,187 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $134 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $55 | $155 |
| Highways & Roads | $3 | $61 |
| Education | $1 | $41 |
| Public Welfare | $388 | $3,950 |
| Health | $8 | $765 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $83 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $648 |
| Housing | $164 | $1,535 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $268 |
| Utilities | $0 | $2,103 |
| Interest on Debt | $1 | $1,924 |
| General Admin | $0 | $30,834 |
| Other | $547 | $2,548 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.