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

Spokane, WA vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Seattle spends 52.9% more per capita than Spokane ($18,239/person difference). Spokane, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Spokane, WA
Pop. 227,922
B
70/100
Budget Balance37
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency84
Revenue Diversity82
Trend Direction50
City B
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Spokane
Seattle
Total Spending
$3.7B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$16,224
$34,463
Total Revenue
$3.0B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$13,098
$76,958
Total Debt
$0
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,100
Population
227,922
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Spokane$2,475
Seattle$0
Fire Protection
Spokane$1,057
Seattle$210
Highways & Roads
Spokane$298
Seattle$0
Parks & Recreation
Spokane$446
Seattle$3,923
Education
Spokane$0
Seattle$1,461
Health
Spokane$8
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SpokaneSeattle
Property Tax
$133
$1,831
Sales Tax
$359
$1,094
Income Tax
$724
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$5,005
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$0
$3,960
Other
$3,063
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SpokaneSeattle
Police
$2,475
$0
Fire Protection
$1,057
$210
Highways & Roads
$298
$0
Education
$0
$1,461
Public Welfare
$1,657
$3,439
Health
$8
$1,131
Hospitals
$224
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$446
$3,923
Housing
$2,512
$3,727
Sewerage
$200
$952
Utilities
$1,624
$6,489
Other
$5,722
$11,260
B
Spokane, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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