Thornton, CO vs Centennial, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Thornton, CO outspends Centennial, CO by a wide margin per resident — $14,462 versus $54, a 26745% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Centennial, CO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 80/100 (grade A) against 54/100 (grade C) for Thornton, CO — a 26-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Centennial, CO reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Thornton, CO carries $1,221 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Thornton, CO at $1,969 per resident and in Centennial, CO at $54.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Thornton, CO and 100% in Centennial, CO.
Summary
Thornton spends 26744.9% more per capita than Centennial ($14,408/person difference). Centennial, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 80/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $530 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $420 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $17,658 | $243 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,216 | $0 |
| Other | $1,541 | $0 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $427 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $411 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $899 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $173 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,969 | $54 |
| Housing | $3,363 | $0 |
| Sewerage | $159 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,118 | $0 |
| Other | $3,943 | $0 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.