Shawnee, KS vs Wichita, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Shawnee, KS outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $19,297 versus $7,986, a 142% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Wichita, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 66/100 (grade B) for Shawnee, KS — a 24-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Shawnee, KS reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Wichita, KS carries $132 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Shawnee, KS at $3,095 per resident and in Wichita, KS at $874.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 27% of total revenue in Shawnee, KS and 14% in Wichita, KS.
Summary
Shawnee spends 141.6% more per capita than Wichita ($11,311/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $366 | $246 |
| Income Tax | $2,215 | $57 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,994 | $3,895 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,193 |
| Other | $966 | $2,783 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,908 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,248 | $152 |
| Highways & Roads | $10 | $126 |
| Education | $0 | $2 |
| Public Welfare | $1,126 | $441 |
| Health | $0 | $254 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $113 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,095 | $874 |
| Housing | $3,109 | $2,618 |
| Utilities | $2,387 | $1,225 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $70 |
| Other | $5,414 | $2,111 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.