Tucson, AZ vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI outspends Tucson, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $31,087 versus $15,759, a 97% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Detroit, MI carries the lighter load at $776 per resident versus $1,540 for Tucson, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Tucson, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $1,229 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 Tucson, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Detroit, MI relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Detroit spends 49.3% more per capita than Tucson ($15,328/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 | $5 | $44 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $200 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $1,045 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $291 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $2,228 |
| Other | $952 | $6,892 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $330 | $2,429 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $833 |
| Health | $0 | $396 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $2,217 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $950 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $5,791 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $451 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $2,737 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $2,068 |
| Other | $3,322 | $13,216 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.