Lawrence, KS vs Wichita, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lawrence, KS outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $50,571 versus $7,986, a 533% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Wichita, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 40/100 (grade D) for Lawrence, KS — a 50-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Wichita, KS carries the lighter load at $132 per resident versus $1,487 for Lawrence, KS. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Lawrence, KS at $1,334 per resident and in Wichita, KS at $874.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Lawrence, KS at 13% of total revenue, whereas Wichita, KS relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 14%.
Summary
Lawrence spends 533.2% more per capita than Wichita ($42,585/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $452 | $246 |
| Income Tax | $1,646 | $57 |
| Intergovernmental | $610 | $3,895 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,976 | $3,193 |
| Other | $5,396 | $2,783 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $701 | $152 |
| Highways & Roads | $152 | $126 |
| Education | $50 | $2 |
| Public Welfare | $1,409 | $441 |
| Health | $528 | $254 |
| Hospitals | $201 | $113 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,334 | $874 |
| Housing | $2,611 | $2,618 |
| Utilities | $3,966 | $1,225 |
| Interest on Debt | $301 | $70 |
| General Admin | $32,300 | $0 |
| Other | $7,016 | $2,111 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.