Renton, WA vs Kent, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Renton, WA outspends Kent, WA by a wide margin per resident — $16,868 versus $10,491, a 61% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Renton, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Kent, WA — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Renton, WA carries the lighter load at $211 per resident versus $905 for Kent, WA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Renton, WA leads with police at $2,978 per resident, while Kent, WA leads with parks and recreation at $1,448.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 20% of total revenue in Renton, WA and 49% in Kent, WA.
Summary
Renton spends 60.8% more per capita than Kent ($6,377/person difference). Renton, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $31 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $377 | $272 |
| Income Tax | $2,146 | $89 |
| Intergovernmental | $792 | $1,884 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,771 | $1,797 |
| Other | $4,728 | $4,935 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,978 | $413 |
| Fire Protection | $753 | $292 |
| Highways & Roads | $90 | -$10 |
| Public Welfare | $1,270 | $850 |
| Health | $0 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $496 | $207 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,288 | $1,448 |
| Housing | $3,801 | $3,476 |
| Sewerage | $39 | $36 |
| Utilities | $3,428 | $1,474 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1 |
| Other | $2,725 | $2,306 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.