Plymouth, MN vs Duluth, MN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Duluth, MN outspends Plymouth, MN by a wide margin per resident — $32,786 versus $8,877, a 269% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Plymouth, MN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 30/100 (grade F) for Duluth, MN — a 39-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Plymouth, MN carries the lighter load at $222 per resident versus $1,961 for Duluth, MN. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Plymouth, MN at $1,549 per resident and in Duluth, MN at $4,217.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Plymouth, MN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Duluth, MN relies most on other revenue at 32%.
Summary
Duluth spends 72.9% more per capita than Plymouth ($23,910/person difference). Plymouth, MN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $1,363 |
| Sales Tax | $613 | $2,261 |
| Income Tax | $149 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $7,979 | $1,348 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,754 | $2,388 |
| Other | $1,884 | $4,697 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $311 | $465 |
| Public Welfare | $820 | $1,859 |
| Health | $0 | $530 |
| Hospitals | $345 | $1,029 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,549 | $4,217 |
| Housing | $2,036 | $3,654 |
| Utilities | $904 | $1,313 |
| Interest on Debt | $631 | $3,181 |
| Other | $2,281 | $16,539 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.