Grand Rapids, MI vs Westland, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Grand Rapids, MI outspends Westland, MI by a wide margin per resident — $22,146 versus $13,362, a 66% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Westland, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 42/100 (grade D) for Grand Rapids, MI — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Westland, MI carries the lighter load at $267 per resident versus $1,394 for Grand Rapids, MI. 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 Westland, MI at $1,333.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Grand Rapids, MI and 100% in Westland, MI.
Summary
Grand Rapids spends 65.7% more per capita than Westland ($8,784/person difference). Westland, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
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 | $12,877 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,769 | $1,581 |
| Other | $5,091 | $3,274 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,930 | $1,333 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $145 |
| Education | $133 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $366 | $1,350 |
| Health | $711 | $859 |
| Hospitals | $2,409 | $136 |
| Parks & Recreation | $882 | $555 |
| Housing | $3,014 | $2,581 |
| Sewerage | $252 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,755 | $812 |
| Other | $9,692 | $5,590 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.