Sterling Heights, MI vs Livonia, MI

Sterling Heights, MI and Livonia, MI spend within 3.3% of each other per resident — $12,550 versus $12,152 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Sterling Heights, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Livonia, MI — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Sterling Heights, MI reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Livonia, MI carries $7 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Sterling Heights, MI leads with fire protection at $1,634 per resident, while Livonia, MI leads with parks and recreation at $1,276.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Sterling Heights, MI at 100% of total revenue, whereas Livonia, MI relies most on other revenue at 65%.