Seattle, WA vs Vancouver, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Seattle, WA outspends Vancouver, WA by a wide margin per resident — $34,463 versus $13,434, a 157% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Seattle, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 45/100 (grade D) for Vancouver, WA — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Vancouver, WA carries the lighter load at $866 per resident versus $1,100 for Seattle, WA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Seattle, WA at $3,923 per resident and in Vancouver, WA at $871.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Seattle, WA at 13% of total revenue, whereas Vancouver, WA relies most on other revenue at 114%.
Summary
Seattle spends 156.5% more per capita than Vancouver ($21,028/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1,831 | $31 |
| Sales Tax | $1,094 | $456 |
| Income Tax | $3,496 | $140 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,846 | $141 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,960 | $2,641 |
| Other | $8,544 | $6,500 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $210 | $0 |
| Education | $1,461 | $3 |
| Public Welfare | $3,439 | $968 |
| Health | $1,131 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,871 | $661 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,923 | $871 |
| Housing | $3,727 | $3,594 |
| Sewerage | $952 | $241 |
| Utilities | $6,489 | $2,481 |
| Other | $11,260 | $4,615 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.