Denver, CO vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $13,222, a 154% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Colorado Springs, CO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 59/100 (grade C) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Colorado Springs, CO carries the lighter load at $3,063 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Denver, CO leads with parks and recreation at $3,319 per resident, while Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 37% of total revenue in Denver, CO and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.
Summary
Denver spends 154.0% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($20,360/person difference). Colorado Springs, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $2,070 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $236 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $44,661 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,207 | $5,676 |
| Other | $10,100 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,455 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,668 | $1,266 |
| Highways & Roads | $475 | $0 |
| Education | $821 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $764 | $575 |
| Health | $693 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,855 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,319 | $376 |
| Housing | $3,565 | $2,713 |
| Sewerage | $293 | $0 |
| Utilities | $4,292 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $7 | $190 |
| General Admin | $364 | $0 |
| Other | $12,011 | $5,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.