Iowa City, IA vs Sioux City, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Iowa City, IA and Sioux City, IA spend within 5.6% of each other per resident — $16,449 versus $15,576 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Sioux City, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 62/100 (grade C) for Iowa City, IA — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Sioux City, IA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Iowa City, IA carries $183 per resident. 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 Sioux City, IA at $1,182.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 22% of total revenue in Iowa City, IA and 26% in Sioux City, IA.
Summary
Iowa City spends 5.6% more per capita than Sioux City ($873/person difference). Sioux City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $14 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $833 | $237 |
| Income Tax | $1,549 | $681 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,216 | $2,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,499 | $2,603 |
| Other | $2,188 | $8,608 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $461 | $19 |
| Highways & Roads | $112 | $76 |
| Education | $57 | $61 |
| Public Welfare | $1,285 | $1,359 |
| Health | $965 | $413 |
| Hospitals | $2,408 | $1,296 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,165 | $1,182 |
| Housing | $1,963 | $2,881 |
| Sewerage | $270 | $285 |
| Utilities | $2,351 | $3,339 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,144 | $0 |
| Other | $4,268 | $4,665 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.