Detroit, MI vs Las Vegas, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $9,085, a 242% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Las Vegas, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 69/100 (grade B) for Detroit, MI — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV 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 Las Vegas, NV leads with parks and recreation at $1,028.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 15% of total revenue in Detroit, MI and 34% in Las Vegas, NV.
Summary
Detroit spends 242.2% more per capita than Las Vegas ($22,002/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $44 | $50 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $386 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $1,137 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $0 |
| Other | $6,892 | $2,806 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $945 |
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $280 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $45 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $705 |
| Health | $396 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $356 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $1,028 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $23 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $332 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $129 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $0 |
| Other | $13,216 | $5,243 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.