Colorado Springs, CO vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $13,222, a 67% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN edges Colorado Springs, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 59/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 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 Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 13% of total revenue in Colorado Springs, CO and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
Memphis spends 40.2% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($8,888/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $257 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,902 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,676 | $2,077 |
| Other | $2,678 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,266 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $575 | $630 |
| Health | $0 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $416 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $376 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $2,713 | $4,683 |
| Utilities | $2,566 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $190 | $1,158 |
| Other | $5,120 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.