Thornton, CO vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Thornton, CO and Colorado Springs, CO spend within 9.4% of each other per resident — $14,462 versus $13,222 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Colorado Springs, CO edges Thornton, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 59/100 (grade C) to 54/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Thornton, CO carries the lighter load at $1,221 per resident versus $3,063 for Colorado Springs, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Thornton, CO leads with parks and recreation at $1,969 per resident, while Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Thornton, CO and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.
Summary
Thornton spends 9.4% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($1,239/person difference). Colorado Springs, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $530 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $420 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $17,658 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,216 | $5,676 |
| Other | $1,541 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $427 | $1,266 |
| Highways & Roads | $411 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $899 | $575 |
| Hospitals | $173 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,969 | $376 |
| Housing | $3,363 | $2,713 |
| Sewerage | $159 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,118 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $190 |
| Other | $3,943 | $5,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.