Phoenix, AZ vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $15,793, a 97% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Detroit, MI edges Phoenix, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 69/100 (grade B) to 67/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 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 Phoenix, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Detroit, MI relies most on other revenue at 15%.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.