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

Denver, CO vs Atlanta, GA

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

Summary

Denver spends 31.9% more per capita than Atlanta ($8,125/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Denver, CO
Pop. 710,800
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50
City B
Atlanta, GA
Pop. 494,838
A
85/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency64
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Denver
Atlanta
Total Spending
$23.9B
$12.6B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$25,457
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$77.6B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$156,803
Total Debt
$3.6B
$0
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$0
Population
710,800
494,838
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
Atlanta$315
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Atlanta$464
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Atlanta$513
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Atlanta$1,274
Education
Denver$821
Atlanta$25
Health
Denver$693
Atlanta$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverAtlanta
Property Tax
$0
$419
Sales Tax
$2,070
$0
Income Tax
$236
$1,292
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$9,121
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$5,645
Other
$10,100
$5,461

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverAtlanta
Police
$2,455
$315
Fire Protection
$1,668
$464
Highways & Roads
$475
$513
Education
$821
$25
Public Welfare
$764
$1,587
Health
$693
$0
Hospitals
$2,855
$55
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$1,274
Housing
$3,565
$4,594
Sewerage
$293
$343
Utilities
$4,292
$8,026
Interest on Debt
$7
$0
General Admin
$364
$0
Other
$12,011
$8,262
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
A
Atlanta, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 85/100
Excellent fiscal health

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