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

Denver, CO vs Milwaukee, WI

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

Summary

Denver spends 73.0% more per capita than Milwaukee ($14,165/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

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
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Denver
Milwaukee
Total Spending
$23.9B
$11.1B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$19,417
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$6.3B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$11,027
Total Debt
$3.6B
$0
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$0
Population
710,800
573,299
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
Milwaukee$3,642
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Milwaukee$802
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Milwaukee$23
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Milwaukee$2,206
Education
Denver$821
Milwaukee$0
Health
Denver$693
Milwaukee$1

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverMilwaukee
Sales Tax
$2,070
$6,548
Income Tax
$236
$1
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$1,231
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$0
Other
$10,100
$3,984

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverMilwaukee
Police
$2,455
$3,642
Fire Protection
$1,668
$802
Highways & Roads
$475
$23
Education
$821
$0
Public Welfare
$764
$180
Health
$693
$1
Hospitals
$2,855
$0
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$2,206
Housing
$3,565
$1,071
Sewerage
$293
$0
Utilities
$4,292
$1,866
Interest on Debt
$7
$1,608
General Admin
$364
$0
Other
$12,011
$8,018
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health

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