Westminster, CO vs Thornton, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Westminster, CO and Thornton, CO spend within 13.6% of each other per resident — $16,434 versus $14,462 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Westminster, CO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 62/100 (grade C) against 54/100 (grade C) for Thornton, CO — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Westminster, CO carries the lighter load at $1,137 per resident versus $1,221 for Thornton, 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 Thornton, CO at $1,969.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Westminster, CO at 15% of total revenue, whereas Thornton, CO relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Westminster spends 13.6% more per capita than Thornton ($1,972/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 | $530 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $420 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,709 | $17,658 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,287 | $4,216 |
| Other | $3,595 | $1,541 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $302 | $427 |
| Highways & Roads | $297 | $411 |
| Public Welfare | $964 | $899 |
| Health | $335 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,115 | $173 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,000 | $1,969 |
| Housing | $3,232 | $3,363 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $159 |
| Utilities | $1,475 | $3,118 |
| Other | $6,713 | $3,943 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.