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

Des Moines, IA vs West Des Moines, IA

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

Summary

West Des Moines spends 91.2% more per capita than Des Moines ($13,478/person difference). Des Moines, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

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
West Des Moines, IA
Pop. 68,744
C
53/100
Budget Balance51
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency84
Revenue Diversity71
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Des Moines
West Des Moines
Total Spending
$277.4M
$1.0B
Spending / Capita
$1,302
$14,779
Total Revenue
$0
$2.4B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$35,361
Total Debt
$0
$140.9M
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,050
Population
213,164
68,744
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Des Moines$134
West Des Moines$0
Fire Protection
Des Moines$55
West Des Moines$240
Highways & Roads
Des Moines$3
West Des Moines$49
Parks & Recreation
Des Moines$0
West Des Moines$1,257
Education
Des Moines$1
West Des Moines$3
Health
Des Moines$8
West Des Moines$615

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Des MoinesWest Des Moines
Property Tax
$0
$24
Sales Tax
$8
$677
Income Tax
$0
$355
Intergovernmental
$0
$16,920
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,669
Other
$38
$3,239

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Des MoinesWest Des Moines
Police
$134
$0
Fire Protection
$55
$240
Highways & Roads
$3
$49
Education
$1
$3
Public Welfare
$388
$1,500
Health
$8
$615
Hospitals
$0
$290
Parks & Recreation
$0
$1,257
Housing
$164
$2,213
Sewerage
$0
$194
Utilities
$0
$669
Interest on Debt
$1
$0
Other
$547
$7,750
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
C
West Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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