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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Westland, MI vs Grand Rapids, MI

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Grand Rapids, MI outspends Westland, MI by a wide margin per resident — $22,146 versus $13,362, a 66% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Westland, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 42/100 (grade D) for Grand Rapids, MI — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Westland, MI carries the lighter load at $267 per resident versus $1,394 for Grand Rapids, MI. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Westland, MI at $1,333 per resident and in Grand Rapids, MI at $1,930.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Westland, MI and 100% in Grand Rapids, MI.

Summary

Grand Rapids spends 39.7% more per capita than Westland ($8,784/person difference). Westland, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Westland, MI
Pop. 84,806
C
61/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden96
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency93
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Grand Rapids, MI
Pop. 198,096
D
42/100
Budget Balance59
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency49
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Westland
Grand Rapids
Total Spending
$1.1B
$4.4B
Spending / Capita
$13,362
$22,146
Total Revenue
$1.1B
$5.0B
Revenue / Capita
$12,877
$25,397
Total Debt
$22.6M
$276.2M
Debt / Capita
$267
$1,394
Population
84,806
198,096
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Westland$1,333
Grand Rapids$1,930
Highways & Roads
Westland$145
Grand Rapids$0
Parks & Recreation
Westland$555
Grand Rapids$882
Education
Westland$0
Grand Rapids$133
Health
Westland$859
Grand Rapids$711

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WestlandGrand Rapids
Property Tax
$0
$167
Sales Tax
$0
$1,089
Income Tax
$0
$429
Intergovernmental
$12,877
$25,397
Charges & Fees
$1,581
$2,769
Other
$3,274
$5,091

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WestlandGrand Rapids
Fire Protection
$1,333
$1,930
Highways & Roads
$145
$0
Education
$0
$133
Public Welfare
$1,350
$366
Health
$859
$711
Hospitals
$136
$2,409
Parks & Recreation
$555
$882
Housing
$2,581
$3,014
Sewerage
$0
$252
Utilities
$812
$2,755
Other
$5,590
$9,692
C
Westland, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
D
Grand Rapids, MI
Fiscal Health Score: 42/100
Below average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

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