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

Sacramento, CA vs Detroit, MI

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

Summary

Sacramento spends 128.5% more per capita than Detroit ($39,933/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Sacramento, CA
Pop. 523,600
C
57/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
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
Sacramento
Detroit
Total Spending
$37.2B
$19.8B
Spending / Capita
$71,020
$31,087
Total Revenue
$33.3B
$28.4B
Revenue / Capita
$63,682
$44,533
Total Debt
$0
$493.9M
Debt / Capita
$0
$776
Population
523,600
636,787
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Sacramento$5,402
Detroit$0
Fire Protection
Sacramento$2,466
Detroit$2,429
Parks & Recreation
Sacramento$1,437
Detroit$950
Education
Sacramento$2,684
Detroit$0
Health
Sacramento$18
Detroit$396

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoDetroit
Property Tax
$1,465
$44
Sales Tax
$378
$200
Income Tax
$3,104
$1,045
Intergovernmental
$3,400
$291
Charges & Fees
$3,239
$2,228
Other
$5,072
$6,892

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoDetroit
Police
$5,402
$0
Fire Protection
$2,466
$2,429
Education
$2,684
$0
Public Welfare
$3,470
$833
Health
$18
$396
Hospitals
$0
$2,217
Parks & Recreation
$1,437
$950
Housing
$8,577
$5,791
Sewerage
$103
$451
Utilities
$19,920
$2,737
Interest on Debt
$162
$2,068
Other
$26,782
$13,216
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
B
Detroit, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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