Gary, IN vs Fishers, IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Gary, IN outspends Fishers, IN by a wide margin per resident — $21,825 versus $6,900, a 216% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Fishers, IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 84/100 (grade A) against 71/100 (grade B) for Gary, IN — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Gary, IN at $358 per resident and in Fishers, IN at $655.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Gary, IN and 61% in Fishers, IN.
Summary
Gary spends 216.3% more per capita than Fishers ($14,925/person difference). Fishers, IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 84/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $46 | $101 |
| Income Tax | $64 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $30,129 | $23,257 |
| Other | $10,510 | $2,313 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $231 | $330 |
| Highways & Roads | $210 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $886 | $534 |
| Hospitals | $721 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $358 | $655 |
| Housing | $2,936 | $1,613 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $169 |
| Utilities | $113 | $0 |
| Interest on Debt | $846 | $0 |
| Other | $15,525 | $3,599 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.