Memphis, TN vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $13,222, a 67% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN edges Colorado Springs, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 59/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $3,063 for Colorado Springs, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.
Summary
Memphis spends 67.2% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($8,888/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $5,676 |
| Other | $3,994 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $1,266 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $575 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $376 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $2,713 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $190 |
| Other | $8,850 | $5,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.