Los Angeles, CA vs Wichita, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Los Angeles, CA outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $7,986, a 970% 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 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 43-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Wichita, KS carries $132 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Los Angeles, CA leads with police at $4,111 per resident, while Wichita, KS leads with parks and recreation at $874.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Los Angeles, CA at 51% of total revenue, whereas Wichita, KS relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 14%.
Summary
Los Angeles spends 969.8% more per capita than Wichita ($77,447/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)
| Property Tax | $64 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $77 | $246 |
| Income Tax | $307 | $57 |
| Intergovernmental | $134 | $3,895 |
| Charges & Fees | $459 | $3,193 |
| Other | $9,048 | $2,783 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,111 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,057 | $152 |
| Highways & Roads | $503 | $126 |
| Education | $829 | $2 |
| Public Welfare | $1,286 | $441 |
| Health | $409 | $254 |
| Hospitals | $2,135 | $113 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,347 | $874 |
| Housing | $6,325 | $2,618 |
| Sewerage | $34 | $0 |
| Utilities | $21,992 | $1,225 |
| Interest on Debt | $630 | $70 |
| General Admin | $11,586 | $0 |
| Other | $33,189 | $2,111 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.