Tucson, AZ vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Tucson, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $15,759, a 113% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Tucson, AZ edges Denver, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 55/100 (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, Tucson, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,540 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 Tucson, AZ at $1,229 per resident and in Denver, CO at $3,319.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Tucson, AZ and 37% in Denver, CO.
Summary
Denver spends 53.1% more per capita than Tucson ($17,823/person difference). Tucson, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $5,207 |
| Other | $952 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $330 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $475 |
| Education | $0 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $764 |
| Health | $0 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $293 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $3,322 | $12,011 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.