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

Renton, WA vs Tacoma, WA

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

Summary

Tacoma spends 29.4% more per capita than Renton ($7,028/person difference). Renton, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Renton, WA
Pop. 105,355
B
75/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Tacoma, WA
Pop. 219,234
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Renton
Tacoma
Total Spending
$1.8B
$5.2B
Spending / Capita
$16,868
$23,896
Total Revenue
$2.4B
$18.9B
Revenue / Capita
$23,215
$86,417
Total Debt
$22.3M
$402.3M
Debt / Capita
$211
$1,835
Population
105,355
219,234
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Renton$2,978
Tacoma$0
Fire Protection
Renton$753
Tacoma$1,153
Highways & Roads
Renton$90
Tacoma$0
Parks & Recreation
Renton$1,288
Tacoma$1,048
Education
Renton$0
Tacoma$1,396
Health
Renton$0
Tacoma$283

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RentonTacoma
Property Tax
$31
$131
Sales Tax
$377
$789
Income Tax
$2,146
$3,984
Intergovernmental
$792
$17,186
Charges & Fees
$1,771
$5,236
Other
$4,728
$6,696

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RentonTacoma
Police
$2,978
$0
Fire Protection
$753
$1,153
Highways & Roads
$90
$0
Education
$0
$1,396
Public Welfare
$1,270
$1,807
Health
$0
$283
Hospitals
$496
$396
Parks & Recreation
$1,288
$1,048
Housing
$3,801
$4,805
Sewerage
$39
$798
Utilities
$3,428
$5,418
Other
$2,725
$6,793
B
Renton, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
C
Tacoma, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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