Detroit, MI vs Wichita, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $7,986, a 289% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Wichita, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 69/100 (grade B) for Detroit, MI — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Wichita, KS carries the lighter load at $132 per resident versus $776 for Detroit, MI. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429 per resident, while Wichita, KS leads with parks and recreation at $874.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Wichita, KS relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 14%.
Summary
Detroit spends 289.3% more per capita than Wichita ($23,101/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $44 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $246 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $57 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $3,895 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $3,193 |
| Other | $6,892 | $2,783 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $152 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $126 |
| Education | $0 | $2 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $441 |
| Health | $396 | $254 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $113 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $874 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $2,618 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $1,225 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $70 |
| Other | $13,216 | $2,111 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.