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

Sioux City, IA vs Ames, IA

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

Summary

Ames spends 65.3% more per capita than Sioux City ($29,339/person difference). Sioux City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Sioux City, IA
Pop. 85,469
B
75/100
Budget Balance53
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Ames, IA
Pop. 66,265
F
34/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden13
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Sioux City
Ames
Total Spending
$1.3B
$3.0B
Spending / Capita
$15,576
$44,915
Total Revenue
$2.8B
$2.1B
Revenue / Capita
$33,238
$32,201
Total Debt
$0
$45.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$680
Population
85,469
66,265
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Sioux City$19
Ames$155
Highways & Roads
Sioux City$76
Ames$61
Parks & Recreation
Sioux City$1,182
Ames$648
Education
Sioux City$61
Ames$41
Health
Sioux City$413
Ames$765

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Sioux CityAmes
Property Tax
$0
$5
Sales Tax
$237
$413
Income Tax
$681
$648
Intergovernmental
$2,787
$3,359
Charges & Fees
$2,603
$1,979
Other
$8,608
$2,187

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Sioux CityAmes
Fire Protection
$19
$155
Highways & Roads
$76
$61
Education
$61
$41
Public Welfare
$1,359
$3,950
Health
$413
$765
Hospitals
$1,296
$83
Parks & Recreation
$1,182
$648
Housing
$2,881
$1,535
Sewerage
$285
$268
Utilities
$3,339
$2,103
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,924
General Admin
$0
$30,834
Other
$4,665
$2,548
B
Sioux City, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
F
Ames, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 34/100
Critical fiscal distress

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