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

Westminster, CO vs Aurora, CO

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Aurora, CO and Westminster, CO spend within 5.9% of each other per resident — $17,400 versus $16,434 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Aurora, CO edges Westminster, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 66/100 (grade B) to 62/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

On debt, Westminster, CO carries the lighter load at $1,137 per resident versus $4,017 for Aurora, CO. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Westminster, CO at $2,000 per resident and in Aurora, CO at $1,299.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on charges and fees — 15% of total revenue in Westminster, CO and 17% in Aurora, CO.

Summary

Aurora spends 5.6% more per capita than Westminster ($966/person difference). Aurora, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 66/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Westminster, CO
Pop. 115,502
C
62/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden13
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency83
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Aurora, CO
Pop. 387,349
B
66/100
Budget Balance84
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Westminster
Aurora
Total Spending
$1.9B
$6.7B
Spending / Capita
$16,434
$17,400
Total Revenue
$3.2B
$8.4B
Revenue / Capita
$27,812
$21,624
Total Debt
$131.4M
$1.6B
Debt / Capita
$1,137
$4,017
Population
115,502
387,349
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Westminster$302
Aurora$785
Highways & Roads
Westminster$297
Aurora$0
Parks & Recreation
Westminster$2,000
Aurora$1,299
Health
Westminster$335
Aurora$185

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WestminsterAurora
Sales Tax
$1,178
$303
Intergovernmental
$2,709
$825
Charges & Fees
$4,287
$3,728
Other
$3,595
$2,042

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WestminsterAurora
Fire Protection
$302
$785
Highways & Roads
$297
$0
Public Welfare
$964
$1,001
Health
$335
$185
Hospitals
$1,115
$678
Parks & Recreation
$2,000
$1,299
Housing
$3,232
$3,493
Utilities
$1,475
$1,978
Other
$6,713
$7,981
C
Westminster, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health
B
Aurora, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 66/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.