Bakersfield, CA vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Colorado Springs, CO and Bakersfield, CA spend within 14.2% of each other per resident — $13,222 versus $11,576 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Colorado Springs, CO edges Bakersfield, CA on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 59/100 (grade C) to 56/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Bakersfield, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Colorado Springs, CO carries $3,063 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Bakersfield, CA leads with parks and recreation at $741 per resident, while Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bakersfield, CA and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.
Summary
Colorado Springs spends 12.5% more per capita than Bakersfield ($1,647/person difference). Colorado Springs, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $20 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $1,909 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,862 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,024 | $5,676 |
| Other | $1,915 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $1,266 |
| Public Welfare | $840 | $575 |
| Hospitals | $425 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $741 | $376 |
| Housing | $3,391 | $2,713 |
| Sewerage | $265 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,679 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $190 |
| Other | $3,234 | $5,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.