Detroit, MI vs Westland, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Westland, MI by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $13,362, a 133% 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 61/100 (grade C) for Westland, MI — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Westland, MI carries the lighter load at $267 per resident versus $776 for Detroit, MI. 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 Westland, MI at $1,333.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Westland, MI relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Detroit spends 132.7% more per capita than Westland ($17,726/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 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $12,877 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $1,581 |
| Other | $6,892 | $3,274 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $1,333 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $145 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $1,350 |
| Health | $396 | $859 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $136 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $555 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $2,581 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $812 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $0 |
| Other | $13,216 | $5,590 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.