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

Lansing, MI vs Westland, MI

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Lansing, MI outspends Westland, MI by a wide margin per resident — $30,923 versus $13,362, a 131% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Westland, MI edges Lansing, MI on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 61/100 (grade C) to 55/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

On debt, Westland, MI carries the lighter load at $267 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 Westland, MI at $1,333.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 21% of total revenue in Lansing, MI and 100% in Westland, MI.

Summary

Lansing spends 131.4% more per capita than Westland ($17,561/person difference). Westland, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

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
Westland, MI
Pop. 84,806
C
61/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden96
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency93
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Lansing
Westland
Total Spending
$3.5B
$1.1B
Spending / Capita
$30,923
$13,362
Total Revenue
$10.8B
$1.1B
Revenue / Capita
$95,909
$12,877
Total Debt
$90.0M
$22.6M
Debt / Capita
$796
$267
Population
112,986
84,806
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Lansing$3,190
Westland$1,333
Highways & Roads
Lansing$0
Westland$145
Parks & Recreation
Lansing$2,023
Westland$555
Education
Lansing$61
Westland$0
Health
Lansing$0
Westland$859

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LansingWestland
Sales Tax
$611
$0
Income Tax
$698
$0
Intergovernmental
$20,165
$12,877
Charges & Fees
$4,486
$1,581
Other
$6,549
$3,274

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

LansingWestland
Fire Protection
$3,190
$1,333
Highways & Roads
$0
$145
Education
$61
$0
Public Welfare
$2,424
$1,350
Health
$0
$859
Hospitals
$2,917
$136
Parks & Recreation
$2,023
$555
Housing
$4,499
$2,581
Utilities
$3,743
$812
Other
$12,066
$5,590
C
Lansing, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
C
Westland, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.