Charlotte, NC vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Charlotte, NC by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $15,854, a 112% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Charlotte, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Charlotte, NC carries the lighter load at $2,690 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Charlotte, NC at $1,571 per resident and in Denver, CO at $3,319.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas Denver, CO relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 37%.
Summary
Denver spends 52.8% more per capita than Charlotte ($17,729/person difference). Charlotte, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $541 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $5,207 |
| Other | $4,866 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $463 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $475 |
| Education | $0 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $764 |
| Health | $0 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $293 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $3,448 | $12,011 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.