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

Washington, DC vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Washington spends 606.1% more per capita than Seattle ($208,878/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
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
Washington
Seattle
Total Spending
$163.2B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$243,341
$34,463
Total Revenue
$186.2B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$277,701
$76,958
Total Debt
$1.7B
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$2,516
$1,100
Population
670,587
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Washington$4,183
Seattle$0
Fire Protection
Washington$4,262
Seattle$210
Highways & Roads
Washington$1,435
Seattle$0
Parks & Recreation
Washington$5,459
Seattle$3,923
Education
Washington$53,224
Seattle$1,461
Health
Washington$1,009
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonSeattle
Property Tax
$25
$1,831
Sales Tax
$991
$1,094
Income Tax
$141
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$18,754
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$4,070
$3,960
Other
$11,518
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonSeattle
Police
$4,183
$0
Fire Protection
$4,262
$210
Highways & Roads
$1,435
$0
Education
$53,224
$1,461
Public Welfare
$2,498
$3,439
Health
$1,009
$1,131
Hospitals
$17,668
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$5,459
$3,923
Housing
$10,296
$3,727
Sewerage
$2,881
$952
Utilities
$88,990
$6,489
Interest on Debt
$58
$0
General Admin
$3,225
$0
Other
$48,155
$11,260
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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