Los Angeles, CA vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Los Angeles, CA outspends Detroit, MI by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $31,087, a 175% 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 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Detroit, MI carries $776 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Los Angeles, CA leads with police at $4,111 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 51% of total revenue in Los Angeles, CA and 15% in Detroit, MI.
Summary
Los Angeles spends 174.8% more per capita than Detroit ($54,345/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 | $64 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $77 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $307 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $134 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $459 | $2,228 |
| Other | $9,048 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,111 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,057 | $2,429 |
| Highways & Roads | $503 | $0 |
| Education | $829 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,286 | $833 |
| Health | $409 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $2,135 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,347 | $950 |
| Housing | $6,325 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $34 | $451 |
| Utilities | $21,992 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $630 | $2,068 |
| General Admin | $11,586 | $0 |
| Other | $33,189 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.