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

Warren, MI vs Lansing, MI

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Lansing, MI outspends Warren, MI by a wide margin per resident — $30,923 versus $15,235, a 103% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Warren, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 55/100 (grade C) for Lansing, MI — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Lansing, MI carries the lighter load at $796 per resident versus $941 for Warren, MI. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Warren, MI at $2,024 per resident and in Lansing, MI at $3,190.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 27% of total revenue in Warren, MI and 21% in Lansing, MI.

Summary

Lansing spends 50.7% more per capita than Warren ($15,688/person difference). Warren, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Warren, MI
Pop. 138,588
C
63/100
Budget Balance46
Debt Burden37
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency90
Revenue Diversity100
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
Warren
Lansing
Total Spending
$2.1B
$3.5B
Spending / Capita
$15,235
$30,923
Total Revenue
$1.9B
$10.8B
Revenue / Capita
$13,851
$95,909
Total Debt
$130.4M
$90.0M
Debt / Capita
$941
$796
Population
138,588
112,986
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Warren$2,024
Lansing$3,190
Highways & Roads
Warren$154
Lansing$0
Parks & Recreation
Warren$449
Lansing$2,023
Education
Warren$0
Lansing$61
Health
Warren$330
Lansing$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WarrenLansing
Sales Tax
$68
$611
Income Tax
$0
$698
Intergovernmental
$3,804
$20,165
Charges & Fees
$1,940
$4,486
Other
$2,406
$6,549

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WarrenLansing
Fire Protection
$2,024
$3,190
Highways & Roads
$154
$0
Education
$0
$61
Public Welfare
$2,305
$2,424
Health
$330
$0
Hospitals
$164
$2,917
Parks & Recreation
$449
$2,023
Housing
$3,684
$4,499
Sewerage
$234
$0
Utilities
$2,218
$3,743
Other
$3,671
$12,066
C
Warren, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health
C
Lansing, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.