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

Detroit, MI vs Atlanta, GA

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

Summary

Detroit spends 22.1% more per capita than Atlanta ($5,630/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Detroit, MI
Pop. 636,787
B
69/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden79
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Atlanta, GA
Pop. 494,838
A
85/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency64
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Atlanta
Total Spending
$19.8B
$12.6B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$25,457
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$77.6B
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$156,803
Total Debt
$493.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$776
$0
Population
636,787
494,838
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Detroit$0
Atlanta$315
Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Atlanta$464
Highways & Roads
Detroit$0
Atlanta$513
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Atlanta$1,274
Education
Detroit$0
Atlanta$25
Health
Detroit$396
Atlanta$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitAtlanta
Property Tax
$44
$419
Sales Tax
$200
$0
Income Tax
$1,045
$1,292
Intergovernmental
$291
$9,121
Charges & Fees
$2,228
$5,645
Other
$6,892
$5,461

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitAtlanta
Police
$0
$315
Fire Protection
$2,429
$464
Highways & Roads
$0
$513
Education
$0
$25
Public Welfare
$833
$1,587
Health
$396
$0
Hospitals
$2,217
$55
Parks & Recreation
$950
$1,274
Housing
$5,791
$4,594
Sewerage
$451
$343
Utilities
$2,737
$8,026
Interest on Debt
$2,068
$0
Other
$13,216
$8,262
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
A
Atlanta, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 85/100
Excellent fiscal health

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