Oakland, CA vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI and Oakland, CA spend within 3.4% of each other per resident — $31,087 versus $30,055 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Oakland, CA edges Detroit, MI on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 72/100 (grade B) to 69/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Oakland, 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: Oakland, CA leads with health at $1,016 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Oakland, CA at 100% of total revenue, whereas Detroit, MI relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Detroit spends 3.3% more per capita than Oakland ($1,033/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $522 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $42,277 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,228 |
| Other | $4,337 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1 | $2,429 |
| Public Welfare | $2,426 | $833 |
| Health | $1,016 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $2,498 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $955 | $950 |
| Housing | $7,811 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $1,417 | $451 |
| Utilities | $0 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,068 |
| Other | $13,929 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.