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

Philadelphia, PA vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Philadelphia spends 67.6% more per capita than Denver ($22,690/person difference). Denver, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
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
Philadelphia
Denver
Total Spending
$89.7B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$56,272
$33,582
Total Revenue
$64.4B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$40,425
$122,063
Total Debt
$1.7B
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$1,069
$5,126
Population
1,593,208
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Philadelphia$1,505
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Philadelphia$7,082
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Philadelphia$1,215
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Philadelphia$593
Denver$3,319
Education
Philadelphia$0
Denver$821
Health
Philadelphia$229
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhiladelphiaDenver
Sales Tax
$107
$2,070
Income Tax
$8
$236
Intergovernmental
$6,288
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$2,790
$5,207
Other
$4,029
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhiladelphiaDenver
Police
$1,505
$2,455
Fire Protection
$7,082
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$1,215
$475
Education
$0
$821
Public Welfare
$1,456
$764
Health
$229
$693
Hospitals
$4,048
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$593
$3,319
Housing
$4,902
$3,565
Sewerage
$325
$293
Utilities
$4,222
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$3
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$30,692
$12,011
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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