Sterling Heights, MI vs Lansing, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lansing, MI outspends Sterling Heights, MI by a wide margin per resident — $30,923 versus $12,550, a 146% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Sterling Heights, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Lansing, MI — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Sterling Heights, MI reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Lansing, MI carries $796 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Sterling Heights, MI at $1,634 per resident and in Lansing, MI at $3,190.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Sterling Heights, MI and 21% in Lansing, MI.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.