Everett, WA vs Tacoma, WA

Everett, WA and Tacoma, WA spend within 10.7% of each other per resident — $26,447 versus $23,896 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Everett, WA edges Tacoma, WA on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 67/100 (grade B) to 61/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

On debt, Everett, WA carries the lighter load at $141 per resident versus $1,835 for Tacoma, WA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Everett, WA leads with fire protection at $1,790 per resident, while Tacoma, WA leads with education at $1,396.

They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Everett, WA at 24% of total revenue, whereas Tacoma, WA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 20%.