Colorado Springs, CO vs Fort Collins, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Fort Collins, CO outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $26,163 versus $13,222, a 98% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Colorado Springs, CO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 59/100 (grade C) against 44/100 (grade D) for Fort Collins, CO — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Fort Collins, CO carries the lighter load at $318 per resident versus $3,063 for Colorado Springs, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266 per resident, while Fort Collins, CO leads with highways and roads at $2,411.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 13% of total revenue in Colorado Springs, CO and 100% in Fort Collins, CO.
Summary
Fort Collins spends 49.5% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($12,941/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 | $0 | $620 |
| Sales Tax | $257 | $618 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,902 | $13,229 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,676 | $2,187 |
| Other | $2,678 | $3,358 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,266 | $323 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $2,411 |
| Education | $0 | $49 |
| Public Welfare | $575 | $2,292 |
| Hospitals | $416 | $1,022 |
| Parks & Recreation | $376 | $2,355 |
| Housing | $2,713 | $3,104 |
| Utilities | $2,566 | $5,637 |
| Interest on Debt | $190 | $3,129 |
| Other | $5,120 | $5,843 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.