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

Tacoma, WA vs Kent, WA

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

Summary

Tacoma spends 127.8% more per capita than Kent ($13,405/person difference). Tacoma, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Tacoma, WA
Pop. 219,234
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Kent, WA
Pop. 135,169
C
57/100
Budget Balance34
Debt Burden41
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity54
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Tacoma
Kent
Total Spending
$5.2B
$1.4B
Spending / Capita
$23,896
$10,491
Total Revenue
$18.9B
$1.4B
Revenue / Capita
$86,417
$10,134
Total Debt
$402.3M
$122.3M
Debt / Capita
$1,835
$905
Population
219,234
135,169
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Tacoma$0
Kent$413
Fire Protection
Tacoma$1,153
Kent$292
Parks & Recreation
Tacoma$1,048
Kent$1,448
Education
Tacoma$1,396
Kent$0
Health
Tacoma$283
Kent$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

TacomaKent
Property Tax
$131
$0
Sales Tax
$789
$272
Income Tax
$3,984
$89
Intergovernmental
$17,186
$1,884
Charges & Fees
$5,236
$1,797
Other
$6,696
$4,935

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

TacomaKent
Police
$0
$413
Fire Protection
$1,153
$292
Highways & Roads
$0
-$10
Education
$1,396
$0
Public Welfare
$1,807
$850
Health
$283
$0
Hospitals
$396
$207
Parks & Recreation
$1,048
$1,448
Housing
$4,805
$3,476
Sewerage
$798
$36
Utilities
$5,418
$1,474
Interest on Debt
$0
$1
Other
$6,793
$2,306
C
Tacoma, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
C
Kent, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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