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

Seattle, WA vs Milwaukee, WI

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

Summary

Seattle spends 77.5% more per capita than Milwaukee ($15,045/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
Milwaukee
Total Spending
$25.3B
$11.1B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$19,417
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$6.3B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$11,027
Total Debt
$808.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$0
Population
734,603
573,299
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Seattle$0
Milwaukee$3,642
Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Milwaukee$802
Highways & Roads
Seattle$0
Milwaukee$23
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Milwaukee$2,206
Education
Seattle$1,461
Milwaukee$0
Health
Seattle$1,131
Milwaukee$1

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleMilwaukee
Property Tax
$1,831
$0
Sales Tax
$1,094
$6,548
Income Tax
$3,496
$1
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$1,231
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$0
Other
$8,544
$3,984

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleMilwaukee
Police
$0
$3,642
Fire Protection
$210
$802
Highways & Roads
$0
$23
Education
$1,461
$0
Public Welfare
$3,439
$180
Health
$1,131
$1
Hospitals
$1,871
$0
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$2,206
Housing
$3,727
$1,071
Sewerage
$952
$0
Utilities
$6,489
$1,866
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,608
Other
$11,260
$8,018
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health

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