Des Moines, IA vs Council Bluffs, 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: Des Moines, IA leads with police at $134 per resident, while Council Bluffs, IA leads with parks and recreation at $1,587.
Summary
Council Bluffs spends 92.6% 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 | $8 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,036 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $383 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,374 |
| Other | $38 | $3,427 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $134 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $55 | $850 |
| Highways & Roads | $3 | $373 |
| Education | $1 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $388 | $1,494 |
| Health | $8 | $562 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $138 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $1,587 |
| Housing | $164 | $3,385 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $181 |
| Utilities | $0 | $3,119 |
| Interest on Debt | $1 | $278 |
| Other | $547 | $5,695 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.