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

Boston, MA vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Boston spends 115.3% more per capita than Denver ($38,716/person difference). Boston, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Boston, MA
Pop. 665,945
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
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
Boston
Denver
Total Spending
$48.1B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$72,299
$33,582
Total Revenue
$20.8B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$31,243
$122,063
Total Debt
$296.3M
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$445
$5,126
Population
665,945
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Boston$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Boston$1,107
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Boston$594
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Boston$711
Denver$3,319
Education
Boston$30,742
Denver$821
Health
Boston$725
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonDenver
Sales Tax
$78
$2,070
Income Tax
$0
$236
Intergovernmental
$5,357
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$2,784
$5,207
Other
$4,557
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonDenver
Police
$0
$2,455
Fire Protection
$1,107
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$594
$475
Education
$30,742
$821
Public Welfare
$1,110
$764
Health
$725
$693
Hospitals
$2,584
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$711
$3,319
Housing
$6,614
$3,565
Sewerage
$355
$293
Utilities
$3,402
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$0
$7
General Admin
$5,401
$364
Other
$18,955
$12,011
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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