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

Fresno, CA vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Fresno spends 29.2% more per capita than Denver ($9,805/person difference). Denver, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Fresno, CA
Pop. 541,528
C
50/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Denver, CO
Pop. 710,800
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Fresno
Denver
Total Spending
$23.5B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$43,387
$33,582
Total Revenue
$6.0B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$10,998
$122,063
Total Debt
$0
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$0
$5,126
Population
541,528
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Fresno$3,261
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Fresno$568
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Fresno$0
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Fresno$76
Denver$3,319
Education
Fresno$3,942
Denver$821
Health
Fresno$599
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoDenver
Property Tax
$337
$0
Sales Tax
$19
$2,070
Income Tax
$501
$236
Intergovernmental
-$4,470
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$11
$5,207
Other
$2,070
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoDenver
Police
$3,261
$2,455
Fire Protection
$568
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$0
$475
Education
$3,942
$821
Public Welfare
$1,946
$764
Health
$599
$693
Hospitals
$0
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$76
$3,319
Housing
$2,856
$3,565
Sewerage
$0
$293
Utilities
$15,340
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$255
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$14,545
$12,011
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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