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

Detroit, MI vs Denver, CO

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

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

City A
Detroit, MI
Pop. 636,787
B
69/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden79
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Denver, CO
Pop. 710,800
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Denver
Total Spending
$19.8B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$33,582
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$122,063
Total Debt
$493.9M
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$776
$5,126
Population
636,787
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Detroit$0
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Detroit$0
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Denver$3,319
Education
Detroit$0
Denver$821
Health
Detroit$396
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitDenver
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)

DetroitDenver
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
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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