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

Detroit, MI vs Baltimore, MD

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

Summary

Baltimore spends 54.2% more per capita than Detroit ($36,848/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

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
Baltimore, MD
Pop. 584,548
B
70/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Baltimore
Total Spending
$19.8B
$39.7B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$67,935
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$41.3B
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$70,679
Total Debt
$493.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$776
$0
Population
636,787
584,548
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Detroit$0
Baltimore$820
Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Baltimore$1,214
Highways & Roads
Detroit$0
Baltimore$676
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Baltimore$384
Education
Detroit$0
Baltimore$35,510
Health
Detroit$396
Baltimore$757

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitBaltimore
Property Tax
$44
$84
Sales Tax
$200
$55
Income Tax
$1,045
$375
Intergovernmental
$291
$5,085
Charges & Fees
$2,228
$2,192
Other
$6,892
$4,765

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitBaltimore
Police
$0
$820
Fire Protection
$2,429
$1,214
Highways & Roads
$0
$676
Education
$0
$35,510
Public Welfare
$833
$714
Health
$396
$757
Hospitals
$2,217
$1,877
Parks & Recreation
$950
$384
Housing
$5,791
$4,087
Sewerage
$451
$87
Utilities
$2,737
$3,809
Interest on Debt
$2,068
$0
General Admin
$0
$19
Other
$13,216
$17,981
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

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