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

Detroit, MI vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 63.6% more per capita than Detroit ($54,345/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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$19.8B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$85,432
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$17,595
Total Debt
$493.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$776
$0
Population
636,787
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Detroit$0
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Detroit$0
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Detroit$0
Los Angeles$829
Health
Detroit$396
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitLos Angeles
Property Tax
$44
$64
Sales Tax
$200
$77
Income Tax
$1,045
$307
Intergovernmental
$291
$134
Charges & Fees
$2,228
$459
Other
$6,892
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitLos Angeles
Police
$0
$4,111
Fire Protection
$2,429
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$0
$503
Education
$0
$829
Public Welfare
$833
$1,286
Health
$396
$409
Hospitals
$2,217
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$950
$1,347
Housing
$5,791
$6,325
Sewerage
$451
$34
Utilities
$2,737
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$2,068
$630
General Admin
$0
$11,586
Other
$13,216
$33,189
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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