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

Bakersfield, CA vs Detroit, MI

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

Summary

Detroit spends 62.8% more per capita than Bakersfield ($19,512/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Detroit, MI
Pop. 636,787
B
69/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden79
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Detroit
Total Spending
$4.7B
$19.8B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$31,087
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$28.4B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$44,533
Total Debt
$0
$493.9M
Debt / Capita
$0
$776
Population
404,321
636,787
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Detroit$2,429
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Detroit$950
Health
Bakersfield$0
Detroit$396

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldDetroit
Property Tax
$1
$44
Sales Tax
$20
$200
Income Tax
$1,909
$1,045
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$291
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$2,228
Other
$1,915
$6,892

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldDetroit
Fire Protection
$0
$2,429
Public Welfare
$840
$833
Health
$0
$396
Hospitals
$425
$2,217
Parks & Recreation
$741
$950
Housing
$3,391
$5,791
Sewerage
$265
$451
Utilities
$2,679
$2,737
Interest on Debt
$0
$2,068
Other
$3,234
$13,216
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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