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

Denver, CO vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 60.7% more per capita than Denver ($51,850/person difference). Denver, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).

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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Denver
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$23.9B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$85,432
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$17,595
Total Debt
$3.6B
$0
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$0
Population
710,800
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Denver$821
Los Angeles$829
Health
Denver$693
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverLos Angeles
Property Tax
$0
$64
Sales Tax
$2,070
$77
Income Tax
$236
$307
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$134
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$459
Other
$10,100
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverLos Angeles
Police
$2,455
$4,111
Fire Protection
$1,668
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$475
$503
Education
$821
$829
Public Welfare
$764
$1,286
Health
$693
$409
Hospitals
$2,855
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$1,347
Housing
$3,565
$6,325
Sewerage
$293
$34
Utilities
$4,292
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$7
$630
General Admin
$364
$11,586
Other
$12,011
$33,189
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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