Columbus, OH vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Columbus, OH by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $18,858, a 78% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Columbus, OH edges Denver, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 1 points — 52/100 (grade C) to 51/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Columbus, OH carries the lighter load at $1,145 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 Columbus, OH at $2,168 per resident and in Denver, CO at $3,319.
Summary
Denver spends 43.8% more per capita than Columbus ($14,724/person difference). Columbus, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 52/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $5,207 |
| Other | $5,248 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $475 |
| Education | $0 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $764 |
| Health | $0 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $293 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $7,595 | $12,011 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.