Dallas, TX vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Dallas, TX and Denver, CO spend within 3.8% of each other per resident — $34,849 versus $33,582 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Dallas, TX edges Denver, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 57/100 (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.
Dallas, TX reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Denver, CO carries $5,126 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Dallas, TX leads with police at $1,519 per resident, while Denver, CO leads with parks and recreation at $3,319.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 22% of total revenue in Dallas, TX and 37% in Denver, CO.
Summary
Dallas spends 3.8% more per capita than Denver ($1,267/person difference). Dallas, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $9 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $25 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,223 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $5,207 |
| Other | $584 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,519 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $305 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $201 | $475 |
| Education | $62 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $215 | $764 |
| Health | $0 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $385 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $444 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $293 |
| Utilities | $833 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $7 |
| General Admin | $25,827 | $364 |
| Other | $5,059 | $12,011 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.