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

Lakewood, CO vs Thornton, CO

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

Summary

Thornton spends 28.8% more per capita than Lakewood ($4,166/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
Thornton, CO
Pop. 141,799
C
54/100
Budget Balance78
Debt Burden3
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Lakewood
Thornton
Total Spending
$1.6B
$2.1B
Spending / Capita
$10,295
$14,462
Total Revenue
$199.2M
$2.5B
Revenue / Capita
$1,276
$17,658
Total Debt
$182K
$173.1M
Debt / Capita
$1
$1,221
Population
156,149
141,799
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Lakewood$205
Thornton$427
Highways & Roads
Lakewood$0
Thornton$411
Parks & Recreation
Lakewood$2,250
Thornton$1,969

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LakewoodThornton
Sales Tax
$897
$530
Income Tax
$0
$420
Intergovernmental
$1,276
$17,658
Charges & Fees
$82
$4,216
Other
$2,128
$1,541

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

LakewoodThornton
Fire Protection
$205
$427
Highways & Roads
$0
$411
Public Welfare
$1,061
$899
Hospitals
$70
$173
Parks & Recreation
$2,250
$1,969
Housing
$3,750
$3,363
Sewerage
$176
$159
Utilities
$79
$3,118
Other
$2,705
$3,943
C
Lakewood, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Thornton, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health

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