Seattle, WA vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Seattle, WA and Detroit, MI spend within 10.9% of each other per resident — $34,463 versus $31,087 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 61/100 (grade C) for Seattle, WA — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $1,100 for Seattle, WA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Seattle, WA leads with parks and recreation at $3,923 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 Seattle, WA at 13% of total revenue, whereas Detroit, MI relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Seattle spends 10.9% more per capita than Detroit ($3,375/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 | $1,831 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $1,094 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $3,496 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,846 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,960 | $2,228 |
| Other | $8,544 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $210 | $2,429 |
| Education | $1,461 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $3,439 | $833 |
| Health | $1,131 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $1,871 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,923 | $950 |
| Housing | $3,727 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $952 | $451 |
| Utilities | $6,489 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $2,068 |
| Other | $11,260 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.