Vancouver, WA vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Seattle, WA outspends Vancouver, WA by a wide margin per resident — $34,463 versus $13,434, a 157% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Seattle, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 45/100 (grade D) for Vancouver, WA — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Vancouver, WA carries the lighter load at $866 per resident versus $1,100 for Seattle, 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 Seattle, WA at $3,923.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Vancouver, WA at 114% of total revenue, whereas Seattle, WA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 13%.
Summary
Seattle spends 61.0% more per capita than Vancouver ($21,028/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $31 | $1,831 |
| Sales Tax | $456 | $1,094 |
| Income Tax | $140 | $3,496 |
| Intergovernmental | $141 | $9,846 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,641 | $3,960 |
| Other | $6,500 | $8,544 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $210 |
| Education | $3 | $1,461 |
| Public Welfare | $968 | $3,439 |
| Health | $0 | $1,131 |
| Hospitals | $661 | $1,871 |
| Parks & Recreation | $871 | $3,923 |
| Housing | $3,594 | $3,727 |
| Sewerage | $241 | $952 |
| Utilities | $2,481 | $6,489 |
| Other | $4,615 | $11,260 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.