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

Detroit, MI vs Oakland, CA

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

Summary

Detroit spends 3.4% more per capita than Oakland ($1,033/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).

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
Oakland, CA
Pop. 437,825
B
72/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency43
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Detroit
Oakland
Total Spending
$19.8B
$13.2B
Spending / Capita
$31,087
$30,055
Total Revenue
$28.4B
$18.5B
Revenue / Capita
$44,533
$42,277
Total Debt
$493.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$776
$0
Population
636,787
437,825
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Detroit$2,429
Oakland$1
Parks & Recreation
Detroit$950
Oakland$955
Health
Detroit$396
Oakland$1,016

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitOakland
Property Tax
$44
$0
Sales Tax
$200
$522
Income Tax
$1,045
$0
Intergovernmental
$291
$42,277
Charges & Fees
$2,228
$0
Other
$6,892
$4,337

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DetroitOakland
Fire Protection
$2,429
$1
Public Welfare
$833
$2,426
Health
$396
$1,016
Hospitals
$2,217
$2,498
Parks & Recreation
$950
$955
Housing
$5,791
$7,811
Sewerage
$451
$1,417
Utilities
$2,737
$0
Interest on Debt
$2,068
$0
Other
$13,216
$13,929
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health

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