Kent, WA vs Tacoma, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tacoma, WA outspends Kent, WA by a wide margin per resident — $23,896 versus $10,491, a 128% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Tacoma, WA edges Kent, WA on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 61/100 (grade C) to 57/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Kent, WA carries the lighter load at $905 per resident versus $1,835 for Tacoma, WA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Kent, WA leads with parks and recreation at $1,448 per resident, while Tacoma, WA leads with education at $1,396.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Kent, WA at 49% of total revenue, whereas Tacoma, WA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 20%.
Summary
Tacoma spends 56.1% more per capita than Kent ($13,405/person difference). Tacoma, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $131 |
| Sales Tax | $272 | $789 |
| Income Tax | $89 | $3,984 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,884 | $17,186 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,797 | $5,236 |
| Other | $4,935 | $6,696 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $413 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $292 | $1,153 |
| Highways & Roads | -$10 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $1,396 |
| Public Welfare | $850 | $1,807 |
| Health | $0 | $283 |
| Hospitals | $207 | $396 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,448 | $1,048 |
| Housing | $3,476 | $4,805 |
| Sewerage | $36 | $798 |
| Utilities | $1,474 | $5,418 |
| Interest on Debt | $1 | $0 |
| Other | $2,306 | $6,793 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.