Detroit, MI vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $13,911, a 123% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Raleigh, NC edges Detroit, MI on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 76/100 (grade B) to 69/100 (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 $906 for Raleigh, NC. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429 per resident, while Raleigh, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,391.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Raleigh, NC relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 47%.
Summary
Detroit spends 123.5% more per capita than Raleigh ($17,176/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $44 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $2,681 |
| Other | $6,892 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $448 |
| Education | $0 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $498 |
| Health | $396 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $281 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $1,513 |
| Other | $13,216 | $3,646 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.