Minneapolis, MN vs Milwaukee, WI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Minneapolis, MN and Milwaukee, WI spend within 12.8% of each other per resident — $21,910 versus $19,417 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Minneapolis, MN edges Milwaukee, WI on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 62/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Milwaukee, WI reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Minneapolis, MN carries $644 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Minneapolis, MN leads with parks and recreation at $3,486 per resident, while Milwaukee, WI leads with police at $3,642.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Minneapolis, MN at 17% of total revenue, whereas Milwaukee, WI relies most on sales tax at 59%.
Summary
Minneapolis spends 12.8% more per capita than Milwaukee ($2,493/person difference). Minneapolis, MN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,989 | $6,548 |
| Income Tax | $994 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,929 | $1,231 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,040 | $0 |
| Other | $3,254 | $3,984 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $3,642 |
| Fire Protection | $683 | $802 |
| Highways & Roads | $221 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $1,500 | $180 |
| Health | $0 | $1 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,486 | $2,206 |
| Housing | $4,133 | $1,071 |
| Sewerage | $570 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,398 | $1,866 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,608 |
| Other | $8,919 | $8,018 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.