West Des Moines, IA vs Iowa City, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Iowa City, IA and West Des Moines, IA spend within 11.3% of each other per resident — $16,449 versus $14,779 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Iowa City, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 62/100 (grade C) against 53/100 (grade C) for West Des Moines, 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 $2,050 for West Des Moines, IA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in West Des Moines, IA at $1,257 per resident and in Iowa City, IA at $1,165.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in West Des Moines, IA at 48% of total revenue, whereas Iowa City, IA relies most on other revenue at 22%.
Summary
Iowa City spends 10.2% more per capita than West Des Moines ($1,670/person difference). Iowa City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $24 | $14 |
| Sales Tax | $677 | $833 |
| Income Tax | $355 | $1,549 |
| Intergovernmental | $16,920 | $1,216 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,669 | $1,499 |
| Other | $3,239 | $2,188 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $240 | $461 |
| Highways & Roads | $49 | $112 |
| Education | $3 | $57 |
| Public Welfare | $1,500 | $1,285 |
| Health | $615 | $965 |
| Hospitals | $290 | $2,408 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,257 | $1,165 |
| Housing | $2,213 | $1,963 |
| Sewerage | $194 | $270 |
| Utilities | $669 | $2,351 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,144 |
| Other | $7,750 | $4,268 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.