Detroit, MI vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO and Detroit, MI spend within 8.0% of each other per resident — $33,582 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 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429 per resident, while Denver, CO leads with parks and recreation at $3,319.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Denver, CO relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 37%.
Summary
Denver spends 7.4% more per capita than Detroit ($2,495/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 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $5,207 |
| Other | $6,892 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $475 |
| Education | $0 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $764 |
| Health | $396 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $293 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $13,216 | $12,011 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.