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

Bakersfield, CA vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Denver spends 65.5% more per capita than Bakersfield ($22,006/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Denver, CO
Pop. 710,800
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Denver
Total Spending
$4.7B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$33,582
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$122,063
Total Debt
$0
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$0
$5,126
Population
404,321
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Bakersfield$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Bakersfield$0
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Denver$3,319
Education
Bakersfield$0
Denver$821
Health
Bakersfield$0
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldDenver
Property Tax
$1
$0
Sales Tax
$20
$2,070
Income Tax
$1,909
$236
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$5,207
Other
$1,915
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldDenver
Police
$0
$2,455
Fire Protection
$0
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$0
$475
Education
$0
$821
Public Welfare
$840
$764
Health
$0
$693
Hospitals
$425
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$741
$3,319
Housing
$3,391
$3,565
Sewerage
$265
$293
Utilities
$2,679
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$0
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$3,234
$12,011
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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