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

Detroit, MI vs Memphis, TN

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

Summary

Detroit spends 40.6% more per capita than Memphis ($8,977/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
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Memphis
Total Spending
$19.8B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$22,111
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$34,065
Total Debt
$493.9M
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$776
$303
Population
636,787
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Detroit$0
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Memphis$1,397
Health
Detroit$396
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitMemphis
Property Tax
$44
$10
Sales Tax
$200
$496
Income Tax
$1,045
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$291
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$2,228
$2,077
Other
$6,892
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitMemphis
Fire Protection
$2,429
$469
Highways & Roads
$0
$277
Public Welfare
$833
$630
Health
$396
$391
Hospitals
$2,217
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$950
$1,397
Housing
$5,791
$4,683
Sewerage
$451
$0
Utilities
$2,737
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$2,068
$1,158
Other
$13,216
$8,850
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

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