San Jose, CA vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends San Jose, CA by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $17,934, a 73% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
San Jose, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 69/100 (grade B) for Detroit, MI — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
San Jose, 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: San Jose, CA leads with parks and recreation at $1,424 per resident, while Detroit, MI leads with fire protection at $2,429.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 9% of total revenue in San Jose, CA and 15% in Detroit, MI.
Summary
Detroit spends 42.3% more per capita than San Jose ($13,153/person difference). San Jose, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $40 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $315 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $1,935 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,680 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $608 | $2,228 |
| Other | $3,519 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $2,429 |
| Public Welfare | $810 | $833 |
| Health | $609 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $1,254 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,424 | $950 |
| Housing | $4,897 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $161 | $451 |
| Utilities | $2,533 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,068 |
| Other | $6,247 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.