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

Wichita, KS vs Columbus, OH

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

Summary

Columbus spends 57.7% more per capita than Wichita ($10,872/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Wichita, KS
Pop. 395,951
A
90/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Columbus, OH
Pop. 902,449
C
52/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden46
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Wichita
Columbus
Total Spending
$3.2B
$17.0B
Spending / Capita
$7,986
$18,858
Total Revenue
$10.7B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$27,057
$0
Total Debt
$52.2M
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$132
$1,145
Population
395,951
902,449
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Wichita$152
Columbus$1,016
Highways & Roads
Wichita$126
Columbus$224
Parks & Recreation
Wichita$874
Columbus$2,168
Education
Wichita$2
Columbus$0
Health
Wichita$254
Columbus$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WichitaColumbus
Property Tax
$0
$10
Sales Tax
$246
$234
Income Tax
$57
$1
Intergovernmental
$3,895
$0
Charges & Fees
$3,193
$2,389
Other
$2,783
$5,248

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WichitaColumbus
Fire Protection
$152
$1,016
Highways & Roads
$126
$224
Education
$2
$0
Public Welfare
$441
$878
Health
$254
$0
Hospitals
$113
$953
Parks & Recreation
$874
$2,168
Housing
$2,618
$4,303
Sewerage
$0
$1
Utilities
$1,225
$1,719
Interest on Debt
$70
$0
Other
$2,111
$7,595
A
Wichita, KS
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

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