Charlotte, NC vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Charlotte, NC by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $15,854, a 96% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Detroit, MI edges Charlotte, NC on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 69/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $2,690 for Charlotte, NC. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Charlotte, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,571 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 10% of total revenue in Charlotte, NC and 15% in Detroit, MI.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.