Duluth, MN vs Lakeville, MN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Duluth, MN outspends Lakeville, MN by a wide margin per resident — $32,786 versus $9,491, a 245% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Lakeville, MN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 30/100 (grade F) for Duluth, MN — a 28-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Lakeville, MN carries the lighter load at $869 per resident versus $1,961 for Duluth, MN. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Duluth, MN at $4,217 per resident and in Lakeville, MN at $688.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Duluth, MN at 32% of total revenue, whereas Lakeville, MN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 36%.
Summary
Duluth spends 245.5% more per capita than Lakeville ($23,296/person difference). Lakeville, MN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1,363 | $619 |
| Sales Tax | $2,261 | $785 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,348 | $6,772 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,388 | $1,685 |
| Other | $4,697 | $2,950 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $465 | $274 |
| Public Welfare | $1,859 | $777 |
| Health | $530 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,029 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $4,217 | $688 |
| Housing | $3,654 | $2,141 |
| Utilities | $1,313 | $1,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $3,181 | $0 |
| Other | $16,539 | $4,319 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.