Vancouver, WA vs Bellevue, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bellevue, WA outspends Vancouver, WA by a wide margin per resident — $22,065 versus $13,434, a 64% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Bellevue, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 55/100 (grade C) against 45/100 (grade D) for Vancouver, WA — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Vancouver, WA carries the lighter load at $866 per resident versus $1,741 for Bellevue, WA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Vancouver, WA at $871 per resident and in Bellevue, WA at $3,103.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Vancouver, WA at 114% of total revenue, whereas Bellevue, WA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 34%.
Summary
Bellevue spends 39.1% more per capita than Vancouver ($8,631/person difference). Bellevue, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $31 | $1,441 |
| Sales Tax | $456 | $1,282 |
| Income Tax | $140 | $50 |
| Intergovernmental | $141 | $8,407 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,641 | $5,003 |
| Other | $6,500 | $8,143 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $162 |
| Fire Protection | $0 | $966 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $80 |
| Education | $3 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $968 | $1,774 |
| Hospitals | $661 | $2,517 |
| Parks & Recreation | $871 | $3,103 |
| Housing | $3,594 | $3,270 |
| Sewerage | $241 | $199 |
| Utilities | $2,481 | $3,441 |
| Other | $4,615 | $6,553 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.