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

Wichita, KS vs Overland Park, KS

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Overland Park, KS and Wichita, KS spend within 0.7% of each other per resident — $8,044 versus $7,986 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Wichita, KS edges Overland Park, KS on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 90/100 (grade A) to 85/100 (grade A). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

Overland Park, KS reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Wichita, KS carries $132 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Wichita, KS at $874 per resident and in Overland Park, KS at $1,786.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 14% of total revenue in Wichita, KS and 10% in Overland Park, KS.

Summary

Overland Park spends 0.7% more per capita than Wichita ($58/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
Overland Park, KS
Pop. 196,676
A
85/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Wichita
Overland Park
Total Spending
$3.2B
$1.6B
Spending / Capita
$7,986
$8,044
Total Revenue
$10.7B
$2.1B
Revenue / Capita
$27,057
$10,792
Total Debt
$52.2M
$0
Debt / Capita
$132
$0
Population
395,951
196,676
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Wichita$152
Overland Park$93
Highways & Roads
Wichita$126
Overland Park$225
Parks & Recreation
Wichita$874
Overland Park$1,786
Education
Wichita$2
Overland Park$0
Health
Wichita$254
Overland Park$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WichitaOverland Park
Sales Tax
$246
$861
Income Tax
$57
$0
Intergovernmental
$3,895
$1,045
Charges & Fees
$3,193
$0
Other
$2,783
$804

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WichitaOverland Park
Fire Protection
$152
$93
Highways & Roads
$126
$225
Education
$2
$0
Public Welfare
$441
$726
Health
$254
$0
Hospitals
$113
$427
Parks & Recreation
$874
$1,786
Housing
$2,618
$2,095
Utilities
$1,225
$0
Interest on Debt
$70
$0
Other
$2,111
$2,690
A
Wichita, KS
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health
A
Overland Park, KS
Fiscal Health Score: 85/100
Excellent fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.