Detroit, MI vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Columbus, OH by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $18,858, a 65% 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 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429 per resident, while Columbus, OH leads with parks and recreation at $2,168.
Summary
Detroit spends 64.8% more per capita than Columbus ($12,229/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 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $2,389 |
| Other | $6,892 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $224 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $878 |
| Health | $396 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $1 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $1,719 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $0 |
| Other | $13,216 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.