Detroit, MI vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $15,793, a 97% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Detroit, MI edges Phoenix, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 69/100 (grade B) to 67/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Phoenix, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Detroit spends 96.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($15,294/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 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $2,998 |
| Other | $6,892 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $507 |
| Health | $396 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $652 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $388 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $1,760 |
| Other | $13,216 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.