Reno, NV vs Sparks, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Reno, NV spends 21% more per resident than Sparks, NV: $11,698 against $9,634. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Reno, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Sparks, NV — a 23-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Reno, NV at $536 per resident and in Sparks, NV at $873.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Reno, NV at 24% of total revenue, whereas Sparks, NV relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Reno spends 21.4% more per capita than Sparks ($2,064/person difference). Reno, NV 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 | $195 | $74 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,610 | $8,498 |
| Other | $4,147 | $3,990 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $110 | $629 |
| Public Welfare | $930 | $387 |
| Hospitals | $905 | $231 |
| Parks & Recreation | $536 | $873 |
| Housing | $3,888 | $3,512 |
| Sewerage | $498 | $0 |
| Other | $4,830 | $4,002 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.