Sparks, NV vs Las Vegas, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Sparks, NV and Las Vegas, NV spend within 6.0% of each other per resident — $9,634 versus $9,085 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Las Vegas, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Sparks, NV — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Sparks, NV at $873 per resident and in Las Vegas, NV at $1,028.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Sparks, NV at 100% of total revenue, whereas Las Vegas, NV relies most on other revenue at 34%.
Summary
Sparks spends 6.0% more per capita than Las Vegas ($548/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $50 |
| Sales Tax | $74 | $386 |
| Intergovernmental | $8,498 | $1,137 |
| Other | $3,990 | $2,806 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $945 |
| Fire Protection | $629 | $280 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $45 |
| Public Welfare | $387 | $705 |
| Hospitals | $231 | $356 |
| Parks & Recreation | $873 | $1,028 |
| Housing | $3,512 | $23 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $332 |
| Utilities | $0 | $129 |
| Other | $4,002 | $5,243 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.