Sioux City, IA vs West Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Sioux City, IA and West Des Moines, IA spend within 5.4% of each other per resident — $15,576 versus $14,779 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Sioux City, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 53/100 (grade C) for West Des Moines, IA — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Sioux City, IA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while West Des Moines, IA carries $2,050 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Sioux City, IA at $1,182 per resident and in West Des Moines, IA at $1,257.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Sioux City, IA at 26% of total revenue, whereas West Des Moines, IA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 48%.
Summary
Sioux City spends 5.4% more per capita than West Des Moines ($797/person difference). Sioux City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $24 |
| Sales Tax | $237 | $677 |
| Income Tax | $681 | $355 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,787 | $16,920 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,603 | $2,669 |
| Other | $8,608 | $3,239 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $19 | $240 |
| Highways & Roads | $76 | $49 |
| Education | $61 | $3 |
| Public Welfare | $1,359 | $1,500 |
| Health | $413 | $615 |
| Hospitals | $1,296 | $290 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,182 | $1,257 |
| Housing | $2,881 | $2,213 |
| Sewerage | $285 | $194 |
| Utilities | $3,339 | $669 |
| Other | $4,665 | $7,750 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.