Dearborn, MI vs Lansing, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lansing, MI outspends Dearborn, MI by a wide margin per resident — $30,923 versus $17,273, a 79% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Dearborn, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Lansing, MI — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Dearborn, MI carries the lighter load at $264 per resident versus $796 for Lansing, MI. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Dearborn, MI at $1,938 per resident and in Lansing, MI at $3,190.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Dearborn, MI and 21% in Lansing, MI.
Summary
Lansing spends 44.1% more per capita than Dearborn ($13,650/person difference). Dearborn, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $756 | $611 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $698 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,576 | $20,165 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,326 | $4,486 |
| Other | $3,543 | $6,549 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,938 | $3,190 |
| Highways & Roads | $21 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $61 |
| Public Welfare | $1,485 | $2,424 |
| Health | $492 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $222 | $2,917 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,639 | $2,023 |
| Housing | $3,896 | $4,499 |
| Sewerage | $219 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,958 | $3,743 |
| Interest on Debt | $35 | $0 |
| Other | $5,368 | $12,066 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.