Denver, CO vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $13,911, a 141% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 25-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Denver, CO at $3,319 per resident and in Raleigh, NC at $1,391.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 37% of total revenue in Denver, CO and 47% in Raleigh, NC.
Summary
Denver spends 141.4% more per capita than Raleigh ($19,671/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $2,070 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $236 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $44,661 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,207 | $2,681 |
| Other | $10,100 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,455 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,668 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $475 | $448 |
| Education | $821 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $764 | $498 |
| Health | $693 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,855 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,319 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $3,565 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $293 | $281 |
| Utilities | $4,292 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $7 | $1,513 |
| General Admin | $364 | $0 |
| Other | $12,011 | $3,646 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.