Detroit, MI vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $13,222, a 135% 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 59/100 (grade C) for Colorado Springs, CO — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $3,063 for Colorado Springs, CO. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Detroit, MI at $2,429 per resident and in Colorado Springs, CO at $1,266.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Colorado Springs, CO relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 13%.
Summary
Detroit spends 135.1% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($17,865/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $5,676 |
| Other | $6,892 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $1,266 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $575 |
| Health | $396 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $376 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $2,713 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $190 |
| Other | $13,216 | $5,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.