Iowa City, IA vs Council Bluffs, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Council Bluffs, IA and Iowa City, IA spend within 7.4% of each other per resident — $17,662 versus $16,449 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Iowa City, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 62/100 (grade C) against 43/100 (grade D) for Council Bluffs, IA — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Iowa City, IA carries the lighter load at $183 per resident versus $994 for Council Bluffs, IA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Iowa City, IA at $1,165 per resident and in Council Bluffs, IA at $1,587.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 22% of total revenue in Iowa City, IA and 24% in Council Bluffs, IA.
Summary
Council Bluffs spends 6.9% more per capita than Iowa City ($1,213/person difference). Iowa City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $14 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $833 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $1,549 | $1,036 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,216 | $383 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,499 | $2,374 |
| Other | $2,188 | $3,427 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $461 | $850 |
| Highways & Roads | $112 | $373 |
| Education | $57 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,285 | $1,494 |
| Health | $965 | $562 |
| Hospitals | $2,408 | $138 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,165 | $1,587 |
| Housing | $1,963 | $3,385 |
| Sewerage | $270 | $181 |
| Utilities | $2,351 | $3,119 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,144 | $278 |
| Other | $4,268 | $5,695 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.