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

Detroit, MI vs Kansas City, MO

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

Summary

Detroit spends 36.2% more per capita than Kansas City ($8,268/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
Kansas City, MO
Pop. 505,958
C
52/100
Budget Balance1
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency76
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Kansas City
Total Spending
$19.8B
$11.5B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$22,820
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$675.4M
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$1,335
Total Debt
$493.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$776
$0
Population
636,787
505,958
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Kansas City$119
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Kansas City$1,309
Health
Detroit$396
Kansas City$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitKansas City
Property Tax
$44
$0
Sales Tax
$200
$623
Income Tax
$1,045
$0
Intergovernmental
$291
$7
Charges & Fees
$2,228
$3,794
Other
$6,892
$11,150

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitKansas City
Fire Protection
$2,429
$119
Public Welfare
$833
$3,018
Health
$396
$0
Hospitals
$2,217
$1,849
Parks & Recreation
$950
$1,309
Housing
$5,791
$4,681
Sewerage
$451
$0
Utilities
$2,737
$3,123
Interest on Debt
$2,068
$0
Other
$13,216
$8,721
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
C
Kansas City, MO
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

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