Grand Rapids, MI vs Sterling Heights, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Grand Rapids, MI outspends Sterling Heights, MI by a wide margin per resident — $22,146 versus $12,550, a 76% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Sterling Heights, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 42/100 (grade D) for Grand Rapids, MI — a 33-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Sterling Heights, MI reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Grand Rapids, MI carries $1,394 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Grand Rapids, MI at $1,930 per resident and in Sterling Heights, MI at $1,634.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Grand Rapids, MI and 100% in Sterling Heights, MI.
Summary
Grand Rapids spends 76.5% more per capita than Sterling Heights ($9,596/person difference). Sterling Heights, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $167 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $1,089 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $429 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $25,397 | $17,646 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,769 | $1,696 |
| Other | $5,091 | $3,682 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,930 | $1,634 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $185 |
| Education | $133 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $366 | $761 |
| Health | $711 | $656 |
| Hospitals | $2,409 | $66 |
| Parks & Recreation | $882 | $11 |
| Housing | $3,014 | $2,747 |
| Sewerage | $252 | $159 |
| Utilities | $2,755 | $2,756 |
| Other | $9,692 | $3,575 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.