Federal Way, WA vs Bellevue, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bellevue, WA outspends Federal Way, WA by a wide margin per resident — $22,065 versus $7,749, a 185% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Federal Way, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Bellevue, WA — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Federal Way, WA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Bellevue, WA carries $1,741 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Federal Way, WA at $840 per resident and in Bellevue, WA at $3,103.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 43% of total revenue in Federal Way, WA and 34% in Bellevue, WA.
Summary
Bellevue spends 64.9% more per capita than Federal Way ($14,317/person difference). Federal Way, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $122 | $1,441 |
| Sales Tax | $220 | $1,282 |
| Income Tax | $59 | $50 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,441 | $8,407 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $5,003 |
| Other | $1,369 | $8,143 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $288 | $162 |
| Fire Protection | $205 | $966 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $80 |
| Public Welfare | $1,037 | $1,774 |
| Hospitals | $214 | $2,517 |
| Parks & Recreation | $840 | $3,103 |
| Housing | $2,945 | $3,270 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $199 |
| Utilities | $117 | $3,441 |
| Other | $2,103 | $6,553 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.