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

Denver, CO vs Bakersfield, CA

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

Summary

Denver spends 190.1% more per capita than Bakersfield ($22,006/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

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
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Denver
Bakersfield
Total Spending
$23.9B
$4.7B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$11,576
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$3,862
Total Debt
$3.6B
$0
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$0
Population
710,800
404,321
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
Bakersfield$0
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Bakersfield$0
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Bakersfield$0
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Bakersfield$741
Education
Denver$821
Bakersfield$0
Health
Denver$693
Bakersfield$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverBakersfield
Property Tax
$0
$1
Sales Tax
$2,070
$20
Income Tax
$236
$1,909
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$3,862
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$1,024
Other
$10,100
$1,915

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverBakersfield
Police
$2,455
$0
Fire Protection
$1,668
$0
Highways & Roads
$475
$0
Education
$821
$0
Public Welfare
$764
$840
Health
$693
$0
Hospitals
$2,855
$425
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$741
Housing
$3,565
$3,391
Sewerage
$293
$265
Utilities
$4,292
$2,679
Interest on Debt
$7
$0
General Admin
$364
$0
Other
$12,011
$3,234
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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