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

Colorado Springs, CO vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Denver spends 60.6% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($20,360/person difference). Colorado Springs, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Colorado Springs, CO
Pop. 479,612
C
59/100
Budget Balance54
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
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
Colorado Springs
Denver
Total Spending
$6.3B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$13,222
$33,582
Total Revenue
$25.3B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$52,777
$122,063
Total Debt
$1.5B
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$3,063
$5,126
Population
479,612
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Colorado Springs$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Colorado Springs$1,266
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Colorado Springs$0
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Colorado Springs$376
Denver$3,319
Education
Colorado Springs$0
Denver$821
Health
Colorado Springs$0
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Colorado SpringsDenver
Sales Tax
$257
$2,070
Income Tax
$0
$236
Intergovernmental
$6,902
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$5,676
$5,207
Other
$2,678
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Colorado SpringsDenver
Police
$0
$2,455
Fire Protection
$1,266
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$0
$475
Education
$0
$821
Public Welfare
$575
$764
Health
$0
$693
Hospitals
$416
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$376
$3,319
Housing
$2,713
$3,565
Sewerage
$0
$293
Utilities
$2,566
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$190
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$5,120
$12,011
C
Colorado Springs, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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