Washington, DC vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Washington, DC outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $243,341 versus $13,222, a 1740% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Colorado Springs, CO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 59/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Washington, DC — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Washington, DC carries the lighter load at $2,516 per resident versus $3,063 for Colorado Springs, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Washington, DC leads with education at $53,224 per resident, while Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Washington, DC and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.
Summary
Washington spends 1740.4% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($230,118/person difference). Colorado Springs, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $25 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $991 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $141 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $18,754 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,070 | $5,676 |
| Other | $11,518 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,183 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $4,262 | $1,266 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,435 | $0 |
| Education | $53,224 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $2,498 | $575 |
| Health | $1,009 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $17,668 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $5,459 | $376 |
| Housing | $10,296 | $2,713 |
| Sewerage | $2,881 | $0 |
| Utilities | $88,990 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $58 | $190 |
| General Admin | $3,225 | $0 |
| Other | $48,155 | $5,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.