Detroit, MI vs Philadelphia, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA outspends Detroit, MI by a wide margin per resident — $56,272 versus $31,087, a 81% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 45/100 (grade D) for Philadelphia, PA — a 24-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $1,069 for Philadelphia, PA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Detroit, MI at $2,429 per resident and in Philadelphia, PA at $7,082.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Philadelphia, PA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 16%.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 44.8% more per capita than Detroit ($25,185/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $44 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $107 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $8 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $6,288 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $2,790 |
| Other | $6,892 | $4,029 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,505 |
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $7,082 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $1,215 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $1,456 |
| Health | $396 | $229 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $4,048 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $593 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $4,902 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $325 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $4,222 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $3 |
| Other | $13,216 | $30,692 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.