Detroit, MI vs Dallas, TX

Dallas, TX and Detroit, MI spend within 12.1% of each other per resident — $34,849 versus $31,087 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Dallas, TX — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Dallas, TX 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 Dallas, TX leads with police at $1,519.

They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Dallas, TX relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 22%.