Las Vegas, NV vs Sparks, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Sparks, NV and Las Vegas, NV spend within 6.0% of each other per resident — $9,634 versus $9,085 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Las Vegas, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Sparks, NV — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Las Vegas, NV at $1,028 per resident and in Sparks, NV at $873.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Las Vegas, NV at 34% of total revenue, whereas Sparks, NV relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Sparks spends 5.7% more per capita than Las Vegas ($548/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $50 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $386 | $74 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,137 | $8,498 |
| Other | $2,806 | $3,990 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $945 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $280 | $629 |
| Highways & Roads | $45 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $705 | $387 |
| Hospitals | $356 | $231 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,028 | $873 |
| Housing | $23 | $3,512 |
| Sewerage | $332 | $0 |
| Utilities | $129 | $0 |
| Other | $5,243 | $4,002 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.