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

Des Moines, IA vs Sioux City, IA

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

Summary

Sioux City spends 91.6% more per capita than Des Moines ($14,275/person difference). Sioux City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

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
Sioux City, IA
Pop. 85,469
B
75/100
Budget Balance53
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Des Moines
Sioux City
Total Spending
$277.4M
$1.3B
Spending / Capita
$1,302
$15,576
Total Revenue
$0
$2.8B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$33,238
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
213,164
85,469
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Des Moines$134
Sioux City$0
Fire Protection
Des Moines$55
Sioux City$19
Highways & Roads
Des Moines$3
Sioux City$76
Parks & Recreation
Des Moines$0
Sioux City$1,182
Education
Des Moines$1
Sioux City$61
Health
Des Moines$8
Sioux City$413

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Des MoinesSioux City
Sales Tax
$8
$237
Income Tax
$0
$681
Intergovernmental
$0
$2,787
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,603
Other
$38
$8,608

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Des MoinesSioux City
Police
$134
$0
Fire Protection
$55
$19
Highways & Roads
$3
$76
Education
$1
$61
Public Welfare
$388
$1,359
Health
$8
$413
Hospitals
$0
$1,296
Parks & Recreation
$0
$1,182
Housing
$164
$2,881
Sewerage
$0
$285
Utilities
$0
$3,339
Interest on Debt
$1
$0
Other
$547
$4,665
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
B
Sioux City, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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