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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Lansing, MI vs Detroit, MI

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

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

City A
Lansing, MI
Pop. 112,986
C
55/100
Budget Balance57
Debt Burden54
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Detroit, MI
Pop. 636,787
B
69/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden79
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Lansing
Detroit
Total Spending
$3.5B
$19.8B
Spending / Capita
$30,923
$31,087
Total Revenue
$10.8B
$28.4B
Revenue / Capita
$95,909
$44,533
Total Debt
$90.0M
$493.9M
Debt / Capita
$796
$776
Population
112,986
636,787
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Lansing$3,190
Detroit$2,429
Parks & Recreation
Lansing$2,023
Detroit$950
Education
Lansing$61
Detroit$0
Health
Lansing$0
Detroit$396

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LansingDetroit
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)

LansingDetroit
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
C
Lansing, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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