Independence, MO vs Kansas City, MO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Kansas City, MO outspends Independence, MO by a wide margin per resident — $22,820 versus $8,176, a 179% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Independence, MO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 80/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Kansas City, MO — a 28-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 Independence, MO at $611 per resident and in Kansas City, MO at $1,309.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Independence, MO at 100% of total revenue, whereas Kansas City, MO relies most on other revenue at 835%.
Summary
Kansas City spends 64.2% more per capita than Independence ($14,644/person difference). Independence, MO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 80/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $480 | $623 |
| Intergovernmental | $38,346 | $7 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,807 | $3,794 |
| Other | $3,970 | $11,150 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $39 | $119 |
| Public Welfare | $345 | $3,018 |
| Hospitals | $406 | $1,849 |
| Parks & Recreation | $611 | $1,309 |
| Housing | $2,769 | $4,681 |
| Utilities | $1,599 | $3,123 |
| Other | $2,407 | $8,721 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.