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

Denver, CO vs Oakland, CA

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

Summary

Denver spends 11.7% more per capita than Oakland ($3,528/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).

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
Oakland, CA
Pop. 437,825
B
72/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency43
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Denver
Oakland
Total Spending
$23.9B
$13.2B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$30,055
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$18.5B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$42,277
Total Debt
$3.6B
$0
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$0
Population
710,800
437,825
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
Oakland$0
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Oakland$1
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Oakland$0
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Oakland$955
Education
Denver$821
Oakland$0
Health
Denver$693
Oakland$1,016

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverOakland
Sales Tax
$2,070
$522
Income Tax
$236
$0
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$42,277
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$0
Other
$10,100
$4,337

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverOakland
Police
$2,455
$0
Fire Protection
$1,668
$1
Highways & Roads
$475
$0
Education
$821
$0
Public Welfare
$764
$2,426
Health
$693
$1,016
Hospitals
$2,855
$2,498
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$955
Housing
$3,565
$7,811
Sewerage
$293
$1,417
Utilities
$4,292
$0
Interest on Debt
$7
$0
General Admin
$364
$0
Other
$12,011
$13,929
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health

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