Wichita, KS vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Colorado Springs, CO outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $13,222 versus $7,986, a 66% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Wichita, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 59/100 (grade C) for Colorado Springs, CO — a 31-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Wichita, KS carries the lighter load at $132 per resident versus $3,063 for Colorado Springs, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Wichita, KS leads with parks and recreation at $874 per resident, while Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 14% of total revenue in Wichita, KS and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.
Summary
Colorado Springs spends 39.6% more per capita than Wichita ($5,237/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $246 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $57 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,895 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,193 | $5,676 |
| Other | $2,783 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $152 | $1,266 |
| Highways & Roads | $126 | $0 |
| Education | $2 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $441 | $575 |
| Health | $254 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $113 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $874 | $376 |
| Housing | $2,618 | $2,713 |
| Utilities | $1,225 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $70 | $190 |
| Other | $2,111 | $5,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.