Waterloo, IA vs Iowa City, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Waterloo, IA and Iowa City, IA spend within 8.2% of each other per resident — $17,802 versus $16,449 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Waterloo, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 71/100 (grade B) against 62/100 (grade C) for Iowa City, IA — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Iowa City, IA carries the lighter load at $183 per resident versus $605 for Waterloo, IA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Waterloo, IA at $1,325 per resident and in Iowa City, IA at $1,165.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 17% of total revenue in Waterloo, IA and 22% in Iowa City, IA.
Summary
Waterloo spends 8.2% more per capita than Iowa City ($1,353/person difference). Waterloo, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 71/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $59 | $14 |
| Sales Tax | $677 | $833 |
| Income Tax | $920 | $1,549 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,021 | $1,216 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,614 | $1,499 |
| Other | $3,969 | $2,188 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $223 | $461 |
| Highways & Roads | $108 | $112 |
| Education | $10 | $57 |
| Public Welfare | $2,637 | $1,285 |
| Health | $431 | $965 |
| Hospitals | $1,864 | $2,408 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,325 | $1,165 |
| Housing | $3,169 | $1,963 |
| Sewerage | $205 | $270 |
| Utilities | $1,874 | $2,351 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,144 |
| Other | $5,957 | $4,268 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.