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

Thornton, CO vs Aurora, CO

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

Summary

Aurora spends 16.9% more per capita than Thornton ($2,938/person difference). Aurora, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 66/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Thornton, CO
Pop. 141,799
C
54/100
Budget Balance78
Debt Burden3
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Aurora, CO
Pop. 387,349
B
66/100
Budget Balance84
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Thornton
Aurora
Total Spending
$2.1B
$6.7B
Spending / Capita
$14,462
$17,400
Total Revenue
$2.5B
$8.4B
Revenue / Capita
$17,658
$21,624
Total Debt
$173.1M
$1.6B
Debt / Capita
$1,221
$4,017
Population
141,799
387,349
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Thornton$427
Aurora$785
Highways & Roads
Thornton$411
Aurora$0
Parks & Recreation
Thornton$1,969
Aurora$1,299
Health
Thornton$0
Aurora$185

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonAurora
Sales Tax
$530
$303
Income Tax
$420
$0
Intergovernmental
$17,658
$825
Charges & Fees
$4,216
$3,728
Other
$1,541
$2,042

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonAurora
Fire Protection
$427
$785
Highways & Roads
$411
$0
Public Welfare
$899
$1,001
Health
$0
$185
Hospitals
$173
$678
Parks & Recreation
$1,969
$1,299
Housing
$3,363
$3,493
Sewerage
$159
$0
Utilities
$3,118
$1,978
Other
$3,943
$7,981
C
Thornton, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health
B
Aurora, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 66/100
Good fiscal health

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