Des Moines, IA vs Ames, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
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
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
F
34/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden13
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Des Moines
Ames
Total Spending
$277.4M
$3.0B
Spending / Capita
$1,302
$44,915
Total Revenue
$0
$2.1B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$32,201
Total Debt
$0
$45.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$680
Population
213,164
66,265
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Police
Des Moines$134
Ames$0
Fire Protection
Des Moines$55
Ames$155
Highways & Roads
Des Moines$3
Ames$61
Parks & Recreation
Des Moines$0
Ames$648
Education
Des Moines$1
Ames$41
Health
Des Moines$8
Ames$765
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
Des MoinesAmes
| 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)
Des MoinesAmes
| 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 |
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
F
Ames, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 34/100
Critical fiscal distress