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

South Bend, IN vs Lafayette, IN

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

Summary

South Bend spends 128.4% more per capita than Lafayette ($20,082/person difference). Lafayette, IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 77/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
South Bend, IN
Pop. 103,084
D
48/100
Budget Balance33
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Lafayette, IN
Pop. 70,828
B
77/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
South Bend
Lafayette
Total Spending
$3.7B
$1.1B
Spending / Capita
$35,719
$15,637
Total Revenue
$1.9B
$2.6B
Revenue / Capita
$18,281
$36,145
Total Debt
$29.7M
$0
Debt / Capita
$288
$0
Population
103,084
70,828
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
South Bend$2,100
Lafayette$30
Highways & Roads
South Bend$2
Lafayette$0
Parks & Recreation
South Bend$1,973
Lafayette$930

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

South BendLafayette
Property Tax
$10
$0
Sales Tax
$759
$323
Income Tax
$955
$0
Intergovernmental
$18,281
$36,145
Charges & Fees
$2,775
$2,183
Other
$6,625
$5,635

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

South BendLafayette
Fire Protection
$2,100
$30
Highways & Roads
$2
$0
Public Welfare
$1,509
$472
Hospitals
$800
$83
Parks & Recreation
$1,973
$930
Housing
$2,520
$2,665
Sewerage
$348
$0
Utilities
$1,910
$3,776
Interest on Debt
$1,088
$2,122
Other
$23,468
$5,559
D
South Bend, IN
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Lafayette, IN
Fiscal Health Score: 77/100
Good fiscal health

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