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

Thornton, CO vs Lakewood, CO

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

Summary

Thornton spends 40.5% more per capita than Lakewood ($4,166/person difference). Lakewood, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

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
Lakewood, CO
Pop. 156,149
C
56/100
Budget Balance5
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Thornton
Lakewood
Total Spending
$2.1B
$1.6B
Spending / Capita
$14,462
$10,295
Total Revenue
$2.5B
$199.2M
Revenue / Capita
$17,658
$1,276
Total Debt
$173.1M
$182K
Debt / Capita
$1,221
$1
Population
141,799
156,149
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Thornton$427
Lakewood$205
Highways & Roads
Thornton$411
Lakewood$0
Parks & Recreation
Thornton$1,969
Lakewood$2,250

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonLakewood
Sales Tax
$530
$897
Income Tax
$420
$0
Intergovernmental
$17,658
$1,276
Charges & Fees
$4,216
$82
Other
$1,541
$2,128

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ThorntonLakewood
Fire Protection
$427
$205
Highways & Roads
$411
$0
Public Welfare
$899
$1,061
Hospitals
$173
$70
Parks & Recreation
$1,969
$2,250
Housing
$3,363
$3,750
Sewerage
$159
$176
Utilities
$3,118
$79
Other
$3,943
$2,705
C
Thornton, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health
C
Lakewood, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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