Indianapolis city (balance), IN vs Milwaukee, WI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Indianapolis city (balance), IN outspends Milwaukee, WI by a wide margin per resident — $46,045 versus $19,417, a 137% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Indianapolis city (balance), IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 74/100 (grade B) against 62/100 (grade C) for Milwaukee, WI — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Milwaukee, WI reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Indianapolis city (balance), IN carries $577 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: police leads in Indianapolis city (balance), IN at $2,032 per resident and in Milwaukee, WI at $3,642.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Indianapolis city (balance), IN at 6% of total revenue, whereas Milwaukee, WI relies most on sales tax at 59%.
Summary
Indianapolis city (balance) spends 137.1% more per capita than Milwaukee ($26,628/person difference). Indianapolis city (balance), IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 74/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $20 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $178 | $6,548 |
| Income Tax | $136 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,312 | $1,231 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,813 | $0 |
| Other | $4,675 | $3,984 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,032 | $3,642 |
| Fire Protection | $397 | $802 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $1,469 | $180 |
| Health | $0 | $1 |
| Hospitals | $2,453 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $798 | $2,206 |
| Housing | $2,664 | $1,071 |
| Sewerage | $248 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,227 | $1,866 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,381 | $1,608 |
| General Admin | $23,227 | $0 |
| Other | $9,149 | $8,018 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.