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

Phoenix, AZ vs Detroit, MI

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

Summary

Detroit spends 49.2% more per capita than Phoenix ($15,294/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
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
Phoenix
Detroit
Total Spending
$25.4B
$19.8B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$31,087
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$28.4B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$44,533
Total Debt
$1.9B
$493.9M
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$776
Population
1,609,456
636,787
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Detroit$2,429
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Detroit$0
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Detroit$950
Education
Phoenix$214
Detroit$0
Health
Phoenix$258
Detroit$396

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixDetroit
Property Tax
$7
$44
Sales Tax
$338
$200
Income Tax
$1,260
$1,045
Intergovernmental
$50,709
$291
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$2,228
Other
$2,038
$6,892

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixDetroit
Fire Protection
$170
$2,429
Highways & Roads
$86
$0
Education
$214
$0
Public Welfare
$507
$833
Health
$258
$396
Hospitals
$1,521
$2,217
Parks & Recreation
$652
$950
Housing
$3,879
$5,791
Sewerage
$388
$451
Utilities
$2,480
$2,737
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$2,068
Other
$3,878
$13,216
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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