Lafayette, IN vs Hammond, IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Hammond, IN outspends Lafayette, IN by a wide margin per resident — $25,779 versus $15,637, a 65% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Lafayette, IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 77/100 (grade B) against 67/100 (grade B) for Hammond, IN — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Lafayette, IN reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Hammond, IN carries $129 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 Hammond, IN at $823.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Lafayette, IN and 100% in Hammond, IN.
Summary
Hammond spends 39.3% more per capita than Lafayette ($10,142/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 | $5 |
| Intergovernmental | $36,145 | $34,733 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,183 | $3,504 |
| Other | $5,635 | $8,679 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $30 | $789 |
| Public Welfare | $472 | $1,360 |
| Hospitals | $83 | $159 |
| Parks & Recreation | $930 | $823 |
| Housing | $2,665 | $3,937 |
| Utilities | $3,776 | $2,592 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,122 | $0 |
| Other | $5,559 | $16,119 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.