Evansville, IN vs Lafayette, IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lafayette, IN and Evansville, IN spend within 8.1% of each other per resident — $15,637 versus $14,467 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Lafayette, IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 77/100 (grade B) against 69/100 (grade B) for Evansville, IN — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Lafayette, IN reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Evansville, IN carries $4,624 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Evansville, IN at $1,054 per resident and in Lafayette, IN at $930.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Evansville, IN at 10% of total revenue, whereas Lafayette, IN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Lafayette spends 7.5% more per capita than Evansville ($1,169/person difference). Lafayette, IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 77/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $109 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $395 | $323 |
| Income Tax | $578 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,427 | $36,145 |
| Charges & Fees | $361 | $2,183 |
| Other | $6,966 | $5,635 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $349 | $30 |
| Education | $86 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $234 | $472 |
| Hospitals | $308 | $83 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,054 | $930 |
| Housing | $2,835 | $2,665 |
| Sewerage | $79 | $0 |
| Utilities | $5,299 | $3,776 |
| Interest on Debt | $553 | $2,122 |
| Other | $3,669 | $5,559 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.