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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Des Moines, IA vs Iowa City, IA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Iowa City spends 92.1% more per capita than Des Moines ($15,148/person difference). Iowa City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Des Moines, IA
Pop. 213,164
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Iowa City, IA
Pop. 74,878
C
62/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency73
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Des Moines
Iowa City
Total Spending
$277.4M
$1.2B
Spending / Capita
$1,302
$16,449
Total Revenue
$0
$751.1M
Revenue / Capita
$0
$10,031
Total Debt
$0
$13.7M
Debt / Capita
$0
$183
Population
213,164
74,878
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Des Moines$134
Iowa City$0
Fire Protection
Des Moines$55
Iowa City$461
Highways & Roads
Des Moines$3
Iowa City$112
Parks & Recreation
Des Moines$0
Iowa City$1,165
Education
Des Moines$1
Iowa City$57
Health
Des Moines$8
Iowa City$965

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Des MoinesIowa City
Property Tax
$0
$14
Sales Tax
$8
$833
Income Tax
$0
$1,549
Intergovernmental
$0
$1,216
Charges & Fees
$0
$1,499
Other
$38
$2,188

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Des MoinesIowa City
Police
$134
$0
Fire Protection
$55
$461
Highways & Roads
$3
$112
Education
$1
$57
Public Welfare
$388
$1,285
Health
$8
$965
Hospitals
$0
$2,408
Parks & Recreation
$0
$1,165
Housing
$164
$1,963
Sewerage
$0
$270
Utilities
$0
$2,351
Interest on Debt
$1
$1,144
Other
$547
$4,268
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
C
Iowa City, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health

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