Waukesha, WI vs Kenosha, WI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Waukesha, WI outspends Kenosha, WI by a wide margin per resident — $38,315 versus $19,120, a 100% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Kenosha, WI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 72/100 (grade B) against 53/100 (grade C) for Waukesha, WI — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: police leads in Waukesha, WI at $2,927 per resident and in Kenosha, WI at $2,544.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 27% of total revenue in Waukesha, WI and 27% in Kenosha, WI.
Summary
Waukesha spends 100.4% more per capita than Kenosha ($19,195/person difference). Kenosha, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $891 | $477 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $19 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,249 | $4,020 |
| Other | $2,389 | $1,853 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,927 | $2,544 |
| Fire Protection | $856 | $374 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,204 | $330 |
| Public Welfare | $1,186 | $0 |
| Health | $523 | $259 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,677 | $663 |
| Housing | $4,755 | $2,466 |
| Utilities | $6,106 | $4,909 |
| Interest on Debt | $88 | $0 |
| Other | $18,994 | $7,574 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.