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

Thornton, CO vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Denver spends 56.9% more per capita than Thornton ($19,121/person difference). Thornton, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 54/100).

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
Denver, CO
Pop. 710,800
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Thornton
Denver
Total Spending
$2.1B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$14,462
$33,582
Total Revenue
$2.5B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$17,658
$122,063
Total Debt
$173.1M
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$1,221
$5,126
Population
141,799
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Thornton$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Thornton$427
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Thornton$411
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Thornton$1,969
Denver$3,319
Education
Thornton$0
Denver$821
Health
Thornton$0
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonDenver
Sales Tax
$530
$2,070
Income Tax
$420
$236
Intergovernmental
$17,658
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$4,216
$5,207
Other
$1,541
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonDenver
Police
$0
$2,455
Fire Protection
$427
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$411
$475
Education
$0
$821
Public Welfare
$899
$764
Health
$0
$693
Hospitals
$173
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$1,969
$3,319
Housing
$3,363
$3,565
Sewerage
$159
$293
Utilities
$3,118
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$0
$7
General Admin
$0
$364
Other
$3,943
$12,011
C
Thornton, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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