Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Grand Rapids, MI vs Sterling Heights, MI

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

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

City A
Grand Rapids, MI
Pop. 198,096
D
42/100
Budget Balance59
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency49
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Sterling Heights, MI
Pop. 133,744
B
75/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Grand Rapids
Sterling Heights
Total Spending
$4.4B
$1.7B
Spending / Capita
$22,146
$12,550
Total Revenue
$5.0B
$2.4B
Revenue / Capita
$25,397
$17,646
Total Debt
$276.2M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,394
$0
Population
198,096
133,744
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Grand Rapids$1,930
Sterling Heights$1,634
Highways & Roads
Grand Rapids$0
Sterling Heights$185
Parks & Recreation
Grand Rapids$882
Sterling Heights$11
Education
Grand Rapids$133
Sterling Heights$0
Health
Grand Rapids$711
Sterling Heights$656

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Grand RapidsSterling Heights
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)

Grand RapidsSterling Heights
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
D
Grand Rapids, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 42/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Sterling Heights, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities