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

Sterling Heights, MI vs Grand Rapids, MI

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

Summary

Grand Rapids spends 43.3% more per capita than Sterling Heights ($9,596/person difference). Sterling Heights, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Sterling Heights, MI
Pop. 133,744
B
75/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Grand Rapids, MI
Pop. 198,096
D
42/100
Budget Balance59
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency49
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Sterling Heights
Grand Rapids
Total Spending
$1.7B
$4.4B
Spending / Capita
$12,550
$22,146
Total Revenue
$2.4B
$5.0B
Revenue / Capita
$17,646
$25,397
Total Debt
$0
$276.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,394
Population
133,744
198,096
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Sterling Heights$1,634
Grand Rapids$1,930
Highways & Roads
Sterling Heights$185
Grand Rapids$0
Parks & Recreation
Sterling Heights$11
Grand Rapids$882
Education
Sterling Heights$0
Grand Rapids$133
Health
Sterling Heights$656
Grand Rapids$711

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Sterling HeightsGrand Rapids
Property Tax
$0
$167
Sales Tax
$0
$1,089
Income Tax
$0
$429
Intergovernmental
$17,646
$25,397
Charges & Fees
$1,696
$2,769
Other
$3,682
$5,091

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Sterling HeightsGrand Rapids
Fire Protection
$1,634
$1,930
Highways & Roads
$185
$0
Education
$0
$133
Public Welfare
$761
$366
Health
$656
$711
Hospitals
$66
$2,409
Parks & Recreation
$11
$882
Housing
$2,747
$3,014
Sewerage
$159
$252
Utilities
$2,756
$2,755
Other
$3,575
$9,692
B
Sterling Heights, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
D
Grand Rapids, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 42/100
Below average fiscal health

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