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

Portland, OR vs Detroit, MI

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

Summary

Detroit spends 23.8% more per capita than Portland ($7,413/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Portland, OR
Pop. 646,101
C
63/100
Budget Balance83
Debt Burden7
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency72
Revenue Diversity100
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
Portland
Detroit
Total Spending
$15.3B
$19.8B
Spending / Capita
$23,675
$31,087
Total Revenue
$31.0B
$28.4B
Revenue / Capita
$47,970
$44,533
Total Debt
$1.0B
$493.9M
Debt / Capita
$1,574
$776
Population
646,101
636,787
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Portland$1,700
Detroit$2,429
Highways & Roads
Portland$139
Detroit$0
Parks & Recreation
Portland$2,477
Detroit$950
Health
Portland$0
Detroit$396

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortlandDetroit
Property Tax
$0
$44
Sales Tax
$1,695
$200
Income Tax
$130
$1,045
Intergovernmental
$8,979
$291
Charges & Fees
$3,883
$2,228
Other
$7,916
$6,892

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortlandDetroit
Fire Protection
$1,700
$2,429
Highways & Roads
$139
$0
Public Welfare
$3,607
$833
Health
$0
$396
Hospitals
$2,893
$2,217
Parks & Recreation
$2,477
$950
Housing
$3,694
$5,791
Sewerage
$630
$451
Utilities
$1,845
$2,737
Interest on Debt
$0
$2,068
Other
$6,689
$13,216
C
Portland, OR
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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