Denver, CO vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO and Detroit, MI spend within 8.0% of each other per resident — $33,582 versus $31,087 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Denver, CO leads with parks and recreation at $3,319 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Denver, CO at 37% of total revenue, whereas Detroit, MI relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Denver spends 8.0% more per capita than Detroit ($2,495/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 | $2,070 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $236 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $44,661 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,207 | $2,228 |
| Other | $10,100 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,455 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,668 | $2,429 |
| Highways & Roads | $475 | $0 |
| Education | $821 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $764 | $833 |
| Health | $693 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $2,855 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,319 | $950 |
| Housing | $3,565 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $293 | $451 |
| Utilities | $4,292 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $7 | $2,068 |
| General Admin | $364 | $0 |
| Other | $12,011 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.