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

Denver, CO vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Summary

Philadelphia spends 40.3% more per capita than Denver ($22,690/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
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Denver
Philadelphia
Total Spending
$23.9B
$89.7B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$56,272
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$64.4B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$40,425
Total Debt
$3.6B
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$1,069
Population
710,800
1,593,208
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
Philadelphia$1,505
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Philadelphia$7,082
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Philadelphia$1,215
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Philadelphia$593
Education
Denver$821
Philadelphia$0
Health
Denver$693
Philadelphia$229

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverPhiladelphia
Sales Tax
$2,070
$107
Income Tax
$236
$8
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$6,288
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$2,790
Other
$10,100
$4,029

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverPhiladelphia
Police
$2,455
$1,505
Fire Protection
$1,668
$7,082
Highways & Roads
$475
$1,215
Education
$821
$0
Public Welfare
$764
$1,456
Health
$693
$229
Hospitals
$2,855
$4,048
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$593
Housing
$3,565
$4,902
Sewerage
$293
$325
Utilities
$4,292
$4,222
Interest on Debt
$7
$3
General Admin
$364
$0
Other
$12,011
$30,692
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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