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

West Des Moines, IA vs Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Summary

Cedar Rapids spends 38.4% more per capita than West Des Moines ($9,194/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.

Fiscal Health Score

City A
West Des Moines, IA
Pop. 68,744
C
53/100
Budget Balance51
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency84
Revenue Diversity71
Trend Direction50
City B
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pop. 136,929
C
53/100
Budget Balance67
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
West Des Moines
Cedar Rapids
Total Spending
$1.0B
$3.3B
Spending / Capita
$14,779
$23,973
Total Revenue
$2.4B
$5.1B
Revenue / Capita
$35,361
$37,389
Total Debt
$140.9M
$190.4M
Debt / Capita
$2,050
$1,391
Population
68,744
136,929
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
West Des Moines$240
Cedar Rapids$466
Highways & Roads
West Des Moines$49
Cedar Rapids$102
Parks & Recreation
West Des Moines$1,257
Cedar Rapids$1,165
Education
West Des Moines$3
Cedar Rapids$0
Health
West Des Moines$615
Cedar Rapids$567

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

West Des MoinesCedar Rapids
Property Tax
$24
$8
Sales Tax
$677
$2,450
Income Tax
$355
$1,513
Intergovernmental
$16,920
$5,898
Charges & Fees
$2,669
$3,261
Other
$3,239
$4,807

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

West Des MoinesCedar Rapids
Fire Protection
$240
$466
Highways & Roads
$49
$102
Education
$3
$0
Public Welfare
$1,500
$1,987
Health
$615
$567
Hospitals
$290
$612
Parks & Recreation
$1,257
$1,165
Housing
$2,213
$4,126
Sewerage
$194
$314
Utilities
$669
$4,004
Interest on Debt
$0
$737
Other
$7,750
$9,894
C
West Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
Cedar Rapids, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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