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

Seattle, WA vs Spokane, WA

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

Summary

Seattle spends 112.4% more per capita than Spokane ($18,239/person difference). Spokane, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

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
Spokane, WA
Pop. 227,922
B
70/100
Budget Balance37
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency84
Revenue Diversity82
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
Spokane
Total Spending
$25.3B
$3.7B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$16,224
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$3.0B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$13,098
Total Debt
$808.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$0
Population
734,603
227,922
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Seattle$0
Spokane$2,475
Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Spokane$1,057
Highways & Roads
Seattle$0
Spokane$298
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Spokane$446
Education
Seattle$1,461
Spokane$0
Health
Seattle$1,131
Spokane$8

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleSpokane
Property Tax
$1,831
$133
Sales Tax
$1,094
$359
Income Tax
$3,496
$724
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$5,005
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$0
Other
$8,544
$3,063

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleSpokane
Police
$0
$2,475
Fire Protection
$210
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$0
$298
Education
$1,461
$0
Public Welfare
$3,439
$1,657
Health
$1,131
$8
Hospitals
$1,871
$224
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$446
Housing
$3,727
$2,512
Sewerage
$952
$200
Utilities
$6,489
$1,624
Other
$11,260
$5,722
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
B
Spokane, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

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