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

Colorado Springs, CO vs Thornton, CO

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

Summary

Thornton spends 8.6% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($1,239/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
Thornton, CO
Pop. 141,799
C
54/100
Budget Balance78
Debt Burden3
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Colorado Springs
Thornton
Total Spending
$6.3B
$2.1B
Spending / Capita
$13,222
$14,462
Total Revenue
$25.3B
$2.5B
Revenue / Capita
$52,777
$17,658
Total Debt
$1.5B
$173.1M
Debt / Capita
$3,063
$1,221
Population
479,612
141,799
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Colorado Springs$1,266
Thornton$427
Highways & Roads
Colorado Springs$0
Thornton$411
Parks & Recreation
Colorado Springs$376
Thornton$1,969

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Colorado SpringsThornton
Sales Tax
$257
$530
Income Tax
$0
$420
Intergovernmental
$6,902
$17,658
Charges & Fees
$5,676
$4,216
Other
$2,678
$1,541

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Colorado SpringsThornton
Fire Protection
$1,266
$427
Highways & Roads
$0
$411
Public Welfare
$575
$899
Hospitals
$416
$173
Parks & Recreation
$376
$1,969
Housing
$2,713
$3,363
Sewerage
$0
$159
Utilities
$2,566
$3,118
Interest on Debt
$190
$0
Other
$5,120
$3,943
C
Colorado Springs, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
C
Thornton, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health

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