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

Lakewood, CO vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Denver spends 69.3% more per capita than Lakewood ($23,287/person difference). Lakewood, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Lakewood, CO
Pop. 156,149
C
56/100
Budget Balance5
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
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
Lakewood
Denver
Total Spending
$1.6B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$10,295
$33,582
Total Revenue
$199.2M
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$1,276
$122,063
Total Debt
$182K
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$1
$5,126
Population
156,149
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Lakewood$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Lakewood$205
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Lakewood$0
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Lakewood$2,250
Denver$3,319
Education
Lakewood$0
Denver$821
Health
Lakewood$0
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LakewoodDenver
Sales Tax
$897
$2,070
Income Tax
$0
$236
Intergovernmental
$1,276
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$82
$5,207
Other
$2,128
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

LakewoodDenver
Police
$0
$2,455
Fire Protection
$205
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$0
$475
Education
$0
$821
Public Welfare
$1,061
$764
Health
$0
$693
Hospitals
$70
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$2,250
$3,319
Housing
$3,750
$3,565
Sewerage
$176
$293
Utilities
$79
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$0
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$2,705
$12,011
C
Lakewood, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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