Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

West Des Moines, IA vs Des Moines, IA

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

Summary

West Des Moines spends 1035.5% more per capita than Des Moines ($13,478/person difference). Des Moines, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

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
Des Moines, IA
Pop. 213,164
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
West Des Moines
Des Moines
Total Spending
$1.0B
$277.4M
Spending / Capita
$14,779
$1,302
Total Revenue
$2.4B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$35,361
$0
Total Debt
$140.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,050
$0
Population
68,744
213,164
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
West Des Moines$0
Des Moines$134
Fire Protection
West Des Moines$240
Des Moines$55
Highways & Roads
West Des Moines$49
Des Moines$3
Parks & Recreation
West Des Moines$1,257
Des Moines$0
Education
West Des Moines$3
Des Moines$1
Health
West Des Moines$615
Des Moines$8

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

West Des MoinesDes Moines
Property Tax
$24
$0
Sales Tax
$677
$8
Income Tax
$355
$0
Intergovernmental
$16,920
$0
Charges & Fees
$2,669
$0
Other
$3,239
$38

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

West Des MoinesDes Moines
Police
$0
$134
Fire Protection
$240
$55
Highways & Roads
$49
$3
Education
$3
$1
Public Welfare
$1,500
$388
Health
$615
$8
Hospitals
$290
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,257
$0
Housing
$2,213
$164
Sewerage
$194
$0
Utilities
$669
$0
Interest on Debt
$0
$1
Other
$7,750
$547
C
West Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities