Livonia, MI vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Livonia, MI by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $12,152, a 156% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Livonia, MI — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Livonia, MI carries the lighter load at $7 per resident versus $776 for Detroit, MI. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Livonia, MI leads with parks and recreation at $1,276 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 65% of total revenue in Livonia, MI and 15% in Detroit, MI.
Summary
Detroit spends 60.9% more per capita than Livonia ($18,935/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 | $624 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $397 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,039 | $2,228 |
| Other | $2,798 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $766 | $2,429 |
| Public Welfare | $2,110 | $833 |
| Health | $418 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,276 | $950 |
| Housing | $2,727 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $166 | $451 |
| Utilities | $1,259 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,068 |
| Other | $3,431 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.