West Des Moines, IA vs Sioux City, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Sioux City, IA and West Des Moines, IA spend within 5.4% of each other per resident — $15,576 versus $14,779 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Sioux City, IA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 53/100 (grade C) for West Des Moines, IA — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Sioux City, IA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while West Des Moines, IA carries $2,050 per resident. 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 Sioux City, IA at $1,182.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in West Des Moines, IA at 48% of total revenue, whereas Sioux City, IA relies most on other revenue at 26%.
Summary
Sioux City spends 5.1% more per capita than West Des Moines ($797/person difference). Sioux City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $24 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $677 | $237 |
| Income Tax | $355 | $681 |
| Intergovernmental | $16,920 | $2,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,669 | $2,603 |
| Other | $3,239 | $8,608 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $240 | $19 |
| Highways & Roads | $49 | $76 |
| Education | $3 | $61 |
| Public Welfare | $1,500 | $1,359 |
| Health | $615 | $413 |
| Hospitals | $290 | $1,296 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,257 | $1,182 |
| Housing | $2,213 | $2,881 |
| Sewerage | $194 | $285 |
| Utilities | $669 | $3,339 |
| Other | $7,750 | $4,665 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.