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

Kansas City, MO vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Denver spends 32.0% more per capita than Kansas City ($10,762/person difference). Kansas City, MO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 52/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Kansas City, MO
Pop. 505,958
C
52/100
Budget Balance1
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency76
Revenue Diversity0
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
Kansas City
Denver
Total Spending
$11.5B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$22,820
$33,582
Total Revenue
$675.4M
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$1,335
$122,063
Total Debt
$0
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$0
$5,126
Population
505,958
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Kansas City$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Kansas City$119
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Kansas City$0
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Kansas City$1,309
Denver$3,319
Education
Kansas City$0
Denver$821
Health
Kansas City$0
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Kansas CityDenver
Sales Tax
$623
$2,070
Income Tax
$0
$236
Intergovernmental
$7
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$3,794
$5,207
Other
$11,150
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Kansas CityDenver
Police
$0
$2,455
Fire Protection
$119
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$0
$475
Education
$0
$821
Public Welfare
$3,018
$764
Health
$0
$693
Hospitals
$1,849
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$1,309
$3,319
Housing
$4,681
$3,565
Sewerage
$0
$293
Utilities
$3,123
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$0
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$8,721
$12,011
C
Kansas City, MO
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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