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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Kent, WA vs Tacoma, WA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

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

City A
Kent, WA
Pop. 135,169
C
57/100
Budget Balance34
Debt Burden41
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity54
Trend Direction50
City B
Tacoma, WA
Pop. 219,234
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Kent
Tacoma
Total Spending
$1.4B
$5.2B
Spending / Capita
$10,491
$23,896
Total Revenue
$1.4B
$18.9B
Revenue / Capita
$10,134
$86,417
Total Debt
$122.3M
$402.3M
Debt / Capita
$905
$1,835
Population
135,169
219,234
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Kent$413
Tacoma$0
Fire Protection
Kent$292
Tacoma$1,153
Parks & Recreation
Kent$1,448
Tacoma$1,048
Education
Kent$0
Tacoma$1,396
Health
Kent$0
Tacoma$283

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

KentTacoma
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)

KentTacoma
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
C
Kent, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
C
Tacoma, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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