Thornton, CO vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Thornton, CO by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $14,462, a 132% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Thornton, CO edges Denver, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 54/100 (grade C) to 51/100 (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 $5,126 for Denver, CO. 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 Denver, CO at $3,319.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Thornton, CO and 37% in Denver, CO.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.