Houston, TX vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Houston, TX by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $14,400, a 116% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Houston, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 69/100 (grade B) for Detroit, MI — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $863 for Houston, TX. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Houston, TX leads with parks and recreation at $361 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 7% of total revenue in Houston, TX and 15% in Detroit, MI.
Summary
Detroit spends 53.7% more per capita than Houston ($16,688/person difference). Houston, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $181 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $39 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $33 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,475 | $2,228 |
| Other | $3,960 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $295 | $2,429 |
| Highways & Roads | $175 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $533 | $833 |
| Health | $210 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $511 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $361 | $950 |
| Housing | $4,288 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $386 | $451 |
| Utilities | $1,339 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,068 |
| Other | $6,301 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.