Detroit, MI vs Jacksonville, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Jacksonville, FL and Detroit, MI spend within 1.2% of each other per resident — $31,456 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 53/100 (grade C) for Jacksonville, FL — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $2,821 for Jacksonville, FL. 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 Jacksonville, FL at $9,436.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Jacksonville, FL relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 14%.
Summary
Jacksonville spends 1.2% more per capita than Detroit ($369/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 | $233 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $762 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $7,348 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $2,119 |
| Other | $6,892 | $4,705 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $18 |
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $9,436 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $486 |
| Health | $396 | $332 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $557 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $1,329 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $5,572 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $176 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $1,835 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $1,942 |
| Other | $13,216 | $9,771 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.