Lafayette, IN vs Carmel, IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Carmel, IN and Lafayette, IN spend within 4.8% of each other per resident — $16,389 versus $15,637 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Lafayette, IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 77/100 (grade B) against 56/100 (grade C) for Carmel, IN — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Lafayette, IN reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Carmel, IN carries $846 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Lafayette, IN at $930 per resident and in Carmel, IN at $1,484.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Lafayette, IN and 100% in Carmel, IN.
Summary
Carmel spends 4.6% more per capita than Lafayette ($752/person difference). Lafayette, IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 77/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $323 | $1,264 |
| Intergovernmental | $36,145 | $90,764 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,183 | $5,500 |
| Other | $5,635 | $2,404 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $30 | $166 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $354 |
| Public Welfare | $472 | $1,885 |
| Hospitals | $83 | $1,121 |
| Parks & Recreation | $930 | $1,484 |
| Housing | $2,665 | $2,696 |
| Utilities | $3,776 | $1,251 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,122 | $0 |
| Other | $5,559 | $7,432 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.