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

Milwaukee, WI vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Denver spends 42.2% more per capita than Milwaukee ($14,165/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
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
Milwaukee
Denver
Total Spending
$11.1B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$19,417
$33,582
Total Revenue
$6.3B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$11,027
$122,063
Total Debt
$0
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$0
$5,126
Population
573,299
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Milwaukee$3,642
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Milwaukee$802
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Milwaukee$23
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Milwaukee$2,206
Denver$3,319
Education
Milwaukee$0
Denver$821
Health
Milwaukee$1
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeDenver
Sales Tax
$6,548
$2,070
Income Tax
$1
$236
Intergovernmental
$1,231
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$0
$5,207
Other
$3,984
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeDenver
Police
$3,642
$2,455
Fire Protection
$802
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$23
$475
Education
$0
$821
Public Welfare
$180
$764
Health
$1
$693
Hospitals
$0
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$2,206
$3,319
Housing
$1,071
$3,565
Sewerage
$0
$293
Utilities
$1,866
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$1,608
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$8,018
$12,011
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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