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

Detroit, MI vs Milwaukee, WI

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

Summary

Detroit spends 60.1% more per capita than Milwaukee ($11,670/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
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Milwaukee
Total Spending
$19.8B
$11.1B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$19,417
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$6.3B
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$11,027
Total Debt
$493.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$776
$0
Population
636,787
573,299
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Detroit$0
Milwaukee$3,642
Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Milwaukee$802
Highways & Roads
Detroit$0
Milwaukee$23
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Milwaukee$2,206
Health
Detroit$396
Milwaukee$1

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitMilwaukee
Property Tax
$44
$0
Sales Tax
$200
$6,548
Income Tax
$1,045
$1
Intergovernmental
$291
$1,231
Charges & Fees
$2,228
$0
Other
$6,892
$3,984

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitMilwaukee
Police
$0
$3,642
Fire Protection
$2,429
$802
Highways & Roads
$0
$23
Public Welfare
$833
$180
Health
$396
$1
Hospitals
$2,217
$0
Parks & Recreation
$950
$2,206
Housing
$5,791
$1,071
Sewerage
$451
$0
Utilities
$2,737
$1,866
Interest on Debt
$2,068
$1,608
Other
$13,216
$8,018
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health

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