Raleigh, NC vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $13,911, a 141% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 25-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Raleigh, NC at $1,391 per resident and in Denver, CO at $3,319.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 47% of total revenue in Raleigh, NC and 37% in Denver, CO.
Summary
Denver spends 58.6% more per capita than Raleigh ($19,671/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $858 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $806 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,128 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,681 | $5,207 |
| Other | $4,740 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $277 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $448 | $475 |
| Education | $6 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $498 | $764 |
| Health | $0 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $669 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,391 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $2,712 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $281 | $293 |
| Utilities | $2,469 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,513 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $3,646 | $12,011 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.