The U.S. Census Bureau recently released state and local fiscal data for fiscal year 2024. This is the best source of data to use for comparisons of taxes and spending across states. To make those comparisons, we adjust the data by population and by personal income.

State and local taxes per capita in Washington grew by 0.4% in 2024, to $7,813. Nationally, state and local taxes per capita increased by 3.3%. Washington’s state and local taxes per capita ranked 13^th highest among the states and were above the national average of $7,316.

State and local spending per capita in Washington increased by 6.9%, to $14,892. Nationally, state and local spending per capita increased by 5.7%. Washington’s state and local spending per capita ranked 13^th highest in the country.

Washington had the nation’s fifth highest personal income per capita in 2024. Thus, Washington’s rankings are lower when measuring taxes and spending as a share of personal income. In 2024, Washington’s state and local taxes as a share of personal income were 9.3%, the 29^th highest in the country. State and local spending as a share of personal income in Washington was 17.7%, the 35^th highest.

Note that these figures do not yet include the new taxes adopted in 2025 and 2026. I’ve updated our Fiscal Management Performance Review data dashboard to reflect the new state and local tax data for 2024.