Lafayette, IN vs Evansville, IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lafayette, IN and Evansville, IN spend within 8.1% of each other per resident — $15,637 versus $14,467 — 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 69/100 (grade B) for Evansville, IN — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Lafayette, IN reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Evansville, IN carries $4,624 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 Evansville, IN at $1,054.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Lafayette, IN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Evansville, IN relies most on other revenue at 10%.
Summary
Lafayette spends 8.1% more per capita than Evansville ($1,169/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)
| Property Tax | $0 | $109 |
| Sales Tax | $323 | $395 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $578 |
| Intergovernmental | $36,145 | $2,427 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,183 | $361 |
| Other | $5,635 | $6,966 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $30 | $349 |
| Education | $0 | $86 |
| Public Welfare | $472 | $234 |
| Hospitals | $83 | $308 |
| Parks & Recreation | $930 | $1,054 |
| Housing | $2,665 | $2,835 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $79 |
| Utilities | $3,776 | $5,299 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,122 | $553 |
| Other | $5,559 | $3,669 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.