Detroit, MI vs Bakersfield, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Bakersfield, CA by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $11,576, a 169% 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 56/100 (grade C) for Bakersfield, CA — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Bakersfield, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Detroit, MI carries $776 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429 per resident, while Bakersfield, CA leads with parks and recreation at $741.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Bakersfield, CA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Detroit spends 168.6% more per capita than Bakersfield ($19,512/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 | $44 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $20 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $1,909 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $3,862 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $1,024 |
| Other | $6,892 | $1,915 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $840 |
| Health | $396 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $425 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $741 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $3,391 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $265 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $2,679 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $0 |
| Other | $13,216 | $3,234 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.