Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Sterling Heights, MI vs Lansing, MI

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

Summary

Lansing spends 59.4% more per capita than Sterling Heights ($18,373/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
Lansing, MI
Pop. 112,986
C
55/100
Budget Balance57
Debt Burden54
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Sterling Heights
Lansing
Total Spending
$1.7B
$3.5B
Spending / Capita
$12,550
$30,923
Total Revenue
$2.4B
$10.8B
Revenue / Capita
$17,646
$95,909
Total Debt
$0
$90.0M
Debt / Capita
$0
$796
Population
133,744
112,986
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Sterling Heights$1,634
Lansing$3,190
Highways & Roads
Sterling Heights$185
Lansing$0
Parks & Recreation
Sterling Heights$11
Lansing$2,023
Education
Sterling Heights$0
Lansing$61
Health
Sterling Heights$656
Lansing$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Sterling HeightsLansing
Sales Tax
$0
$611
Income Tax
$0
$698
Intergovernmental
$17,646
$20,165
Charges & Fees
$1,696
$4,486
Other
$3,682
$6,549

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Sterling HeightsLansing
Fire Protection
$1,634
$3,190
Highways & Roads
$185
$0
Education
$0
$61
Public Welfare
$761
$2,424
Health
$656
$0
Hospitals
$66
$2,917
Parks & Recreation
$11
$2,023
Housing
$2,747
$4,499
Sewerage
$159
$0
Utilities
$2,756
$3,743
Other
$3,575
$12,066
B
Sterling Heights, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
C
Lansing, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities