Lansing, MI vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI and Lansing, MI spend within 0.5% of each other per resident — $31,087 versus $30,923 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Lansing, 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 $796 for Lansing, MI. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Lansing, MI at $3,190 per resident and in Detroit, MI at $2,429.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Lansing, MI at 21% of total revenue, whereas Detroit, MI relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Detroit spends 0.5% more per capita than Lansing ($165/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $611 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $698 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,165 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,486 | $2,228 |
| Other | $6,549 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $3,190 | $2,429 |
| Education | $61 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $2,424 | $833 |
| Health | $0 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $2,917 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,023 | $950 |
| Housing | $4,499 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $451 |
| Utilities | $3,743 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,068 |
| Other | $12,066 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.