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

Denver, CO vs Austin, TX

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

Summary

Denver spends 54.2% more per capita than Austin ($11,810/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

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
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Denver
Austin
Total Spending
$23.9B
$20.9B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$21,772
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$74.4B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$77,600
Total Debt
$3.6B
$1.2B
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$1,229
Population
710,800
958,202
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
Austin$0
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Austin$634
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Austin$0
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Austin$1,801
Education
Denver$821
Austin$51
Health
Denver$693
Austin$517

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverAustin
Sales Tax
$2,070
$526
Income Tax
$236
$1,465
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$14,031
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$3,247
Other
$10,100
$5,645

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverAustin
Police
$2,455
$0
Fire Protection
$1,668
$634
Highways & Roads
$475
$0
Education
$821
$51
Public Welfare
$764
$1,837
Health
$693
$517
Hospitals
$2,855
$664
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$1,801
Housing
$3,565
$3,741
Sewerage
$293
$865
Utilities
$4,292
$3,264
Interest on Debt
$7
$0
General Admin
$364
$0
Other
$12,011
$8,399
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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