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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Milwaukee, WI vs Appleton, WI

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Milwaukee spends 27.4% more per capita than Appleton ($4,176/person difference). Appleton, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50
City B
Appleton, WI
Pop. 75,133
A
87/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency81
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Milwaukee
Appleton
Total Spending
$11.1B
$1.1B
Spending / Capita
$19,417
$15,241
Total Revenue
$6.3B
$2.8B
Revenue / Capita
$11,027
$37,069
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
573,299
75,133
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Milwaukee$3,642
Appleton$0
Fire Protection
Milwaukee$802
Appleton$206
Highways & Roads
Milwaukee$23
Appleton$81
Parks & Recreation
Milwaukee$2,206
Appleton$661
Health
Milwaukee$1
Appleton$684

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeAppleton
Property Tax
$0
$1,550
Sales Tax
$6,548
$558
Income Tax
$1
$226
Intergovernmental
$1,231
$5,693
Charges & Fees
$0
$1,875
Other
$3,984
$1,817

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeAppleton
Police
$3,642
$0
Fire Protection
$802
$206
Highways & Roads
$23
$81
Public Welfare
$180
$2,412
Health
$1
$684
Hospitals
$0
$75
Parks & Recreation
$2,206
$661
Housing
$1,071
$2,686
Sewerage
$0
$130
Utilities
$1,866
$2,687
Interest on Debt
$1,608
$1,257
Other
$8,018
$4,363
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health
A
Appleton, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 87/100
Excellent fiscal health

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