Denver, CO vs Wichita, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $7,986, a 321% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Wichita, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 39-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Wichita, KS carries the lighter load at $132 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 Wichita, KS at $874.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 37% of total revenue in Denver, CO and 14% in Wichita, KS.
Summary
Denver spends 320.5% more per capita than Wichita ($25,596/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $2,070 | $246 |
| Income Tax | $236 | $57 |
| Intergovernmental | $44,661 | $3,895 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,207 | $3,193 |
| Other | $10,100 | $2,783 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,455 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,668 | $152 |
| Highways & Roads | $475 | $126 |
| Education | $821 | $2 |
| Public Welfare | $764 | $441 |
| Health | $693 | $254 |
| Hospitals | $2,855 | $113 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,319 | $874 |
| Housing | $3,565 | $2,618 |
| Sewerage | $293 | $0 |
| Utilities | $4,292 | $1,225 |
| Interest on Debt | $7 | $70 |
| General Admin | $364 | $0 |
| Other | $12,011 | $2,111 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.