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

Columbus, OH vs Denver, CO

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

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

City A
Columbus, OH
Pop. 902,449
C
52/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden46
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
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
Columbus
Denver
Total Spending
$17.0B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$18,858
$33,582
Total Revenue
$0
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$122,063
Total Debt
$1.0B
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$1,145
$5,126
Population
902,449
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Columbus$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Columbus$1,016
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Columbus$224
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Columbus$2,168
Denver$3,319
Education
Columbus$0
Denver$821
Health
Columbus$0
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusDenver
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)

ColumbusDenver
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
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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