Iowa City, IA vs West Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Iowa City, IA and West Des Moines, IA spend within 11.3% of each other per resident — $16,449 versus $14,779 — 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 53/100 (grade C) for West Des Moines, IA — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Iowa City, IA carries the lighter load at $183 per resident versus $2,050 for West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA at $1,257.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Iowa City, IA at 22% of total revenue, whereas West Des Moines, IA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 48%.
Summary
Iowa City spends 11.3% more per capita than West Des Moines ($1,670/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 | $24 |
| Sales Tax | $833 | $677 |
| Income Tax | $1,549 | $355 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,216 | $16,920 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,499 | $2,669 |
| Other | $2,188 | $3,239 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $461 | $240 |
| Highways & Roads | $112 | $49 |
| Education | $57 | $3 |
| Public Welfare | $1,285 | $1,500 |
| Health | $965 | $615 |
| Hospitals | $2,408 | $290 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,165 | $1,257 |
| Housing | $1,963 | $2,213 |
| Sewerage | $270 | $194 |
| Utilities | $2,351 | $669 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,144 | $0 |
| Other | $4,268 | $7,750 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.