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

Thornton, CO vs Fort Collins, CO

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

Summary

Fort Collins spends 44.7% more per capita than Thornton ($11,702/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
Fort Collins, CO
Pop. 168,758
D
44/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency25
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Thornton
Fort Collins
Total Spending
$2.1B
$4.4B
Spending / Capita
$14,462
$26,163
Total Revenue
$2.5B
$2.2B
Revenue / Capita
$17,658
$13,229
Total Debt
$173.1M
$53.6M
Debt / Capita
$1,221
$318
Population
141,799
168,758
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Thornton$427
Fort Collins$323
Highways & Roads
Thornton$411
Fort Collins$2,411
Parks & Recreation
Thornton$1,969
Fort Collins$2,355
Education
Thornton$0
Fort Collins$49

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonFort Collins
Property Tax
$0
$620
Sales Tax
$530
$618
Income Tax
$420
$0
Intergovernmental
$17,658
$13,229
Charges & Fees
$4,216
$2,187
Other
$1,541
$3,358

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonFort Collins
Fire Protection
$427
$323
Highways & Roads
$411
$2,411
Education
$0
$49
Public Welfare
$899
$2,292
Hospitals
$173
$1,022
Parks & Recreation
$1,969
$2,355
Housing
$3,363
$3,104
Sewerage
$159
$0
Utilities
$3,118
$5,637
Interest on Debt
$0
$3,129
Other
$3,943
$5,843
C
Thornton, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health
D
Fort Collins, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 44/100
Below average fiscal health

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