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

Charlotte, NC vs Detroit, MI

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

Summary

Detroit spends 49.0% more per capita than Charlotte ($15,234/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Charlotte, NC
Pop. 875,045
C
63/100
Budget Balance71
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
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
Charlotte
Detroit
Total Spending
$13.9B
$19.8B
Spending / Capita
$15,854
$31,087
Total Revenue
$43.5B
$28.4B
Revenue / Capita
$49,746
$44,533
Total Debt
$2.4B
$493.9M
Debt / Capita
$2,690
$776
Population
875,045
636,787
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Charlotte$463
Detroit$2,429
Highways & Roads
Charlotte$41
Detroit$0
Parks & Recreation
Charlotte$1,571
Detroit$950
Health
Charlotte$0
Detroit$396

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

CharlotteDetroit
Property Tax
$0
$44
Sales Tax
$541
$200
Income Tax
$366
$1,045
Intergovernmental
$1,859
$291
Charges & Fees
$2,459
$2,228
Other
$4,866
$6,892

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

CharlotteDetroit
Fire Protection
$463
$2,429
Highways & Roads
$41
$0
Public Welfare
$672
$833
Health
$0
$396
Hospitals
$1,243
$2,217
Parks & Recreation
$1,571
$950
Housing
$3,944
$5,791
Sewerage
$0
$451
Utilities
$2,244
$2,737
Interest on Debt
$2,226
$2,068
Other
$3,448
$13,216
C
Charlotte, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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