Columbus, OH vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Columbus, OH by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $18,858, a 65% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Columbus, OH leads with parks and recreation at $2,168 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
Summary
Detroit spends 39.3% more per capita than Columbus ($12,229/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 | $10 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $2,228 |
| Other | $5,248 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $2,429 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $833 |
| Health | $0 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $950 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $451 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,068 |
| Other | $7,595 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.