Westminster, CO vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Westminster, CO by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $16,434, a 104% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Westminster, CO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 62/100 (grade C) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Westminster, CO carries the lighter load at $1,137 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 Westminster, CO at $2,000 per resident and in Denver, CO at $3,319.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Westminster, CO at 15% of total revenue, whereas Denver, CO relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 37%.
Summary
Denver spends 51.1% more per capita than Westminster ($17,148/person difference). Westminster, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,178 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,709 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,287 | $5,207 |
| Other | $3,595 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $302 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $297 | $475 |
| Education | $0 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $964 | $764 |
| Health | $335 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $1,115 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,000 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $3,232 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $293 |
| Utilities | $1,475 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $6,713 | $12,011 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.