Detroit, MI vs Mesa, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Mesa, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $12,768, a 143% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Mesa, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 69/100 (grade B) for Detroit, MI — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Mesa, AZ carries the lighter load at $469 per resident versus $776 for Detroit, MI. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429 per resident, while Mesa, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $953.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Mesa, AZ relies most on charges and fees at 9%.
Summary
Detroit spends 143.5% more per capita than Mesa ($18,319/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $44 | $47 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $463 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $1,376 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $1,383 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $3,334 |
| Other | $6,892 | $2,253 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $422 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $192 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $829 |
| Health | $396 | $147 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $537 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $953 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $4,190 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $38 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $2,376 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $0 |
| Other | $13,216 | $3,082 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.