"The right to criticize government is also an obligation to know what you are talking about."

-Lent Upson, first director of Citizens Research Council

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January 29, 2026

Detroit residents and voters have identified crime as a major priority for the Sheffield Administration. A recent survey of Detroiters’ views on the greatest challenges facing their households revealed that crime or safety was their most frequently cited concern, followed by neighborhood conditions and employment. Additionally, a poll of likely Detroit voters last fall found that their highest priority for the next Mayor was fighting crime, drugs, and guns followed by affordable housing, homelessness and neighborhood improvement.

This initial report presents a method for comparing Detroit with peer cities based on factors related to crime, such as population, poverty, and income. This method will allow for a data-informed comparison of Detroit crime based on cities that share similar characteristics.

Detroit Crime Peer Cities

IN A NUTSHELL

 -- Detroit residents have identified public safety as a top priority for the new Mayor. Public safety also plays a large role in the city’s general operating budget. Given its importance to residents and city finances, the Research Council is engaged in a multi-part, inter-city comparative research effort to examine public safety and crime. This first report uses a data-informed approach to establish Detroit’s peer cities for comparisons.

 -- The Research Council selected peer cities based on objective criteria that influence crime in urban areas, including large population size, low median household income, prevalent poverty, and low employment. Detroit’s six peer cities for comparison on crime trends are Milwaukee, Newark, Buffalo, Rochester, Toledo, and Cleveland.

 -- These peer cities will be used in future analyses of Detroit trends, such as types of crime, approaches to combat crime, and public safety budgets. The intent of this research effort is to yield new insights into crime and public safety in the city, while providing future public and local policy discussions with data to inform decision-making around this very important topic.

Evaluating a Local Sales Tax Option for Detroit, Michigan Business Network (January 28)

Minimal Population Growth Hasn’t Changed CRC Population Recommendation, MIRS (January 27)

Could Detroit Add a Local Sales Tax? City Leaders Take a Look., Michigan News Source (January 27)

Report: A Local Sales Tax in Detroit Would Face Formidable Hurdles, DBusiness Daily News (Jan. 20)

Hudson-Webber Gives $900K to Detroit Orgs to Strengthen Housing, Public Safety in Detroit, Michigan Chronicle (January 20)

MIRS Monday addresses political viability of a Detroit sales tax, MIRS (January 19)

Michigan drops tax revenue projections by $1B, faces 'tough decisions', Detroit News (January 16)

Bob Schneider from the CRC on work projects, MichMash Podcast (January 16)

Detroit explores 1% sales tax to raise millions, Axios Detroit (January 16)

Researchers investigate the effects of a potential sales tax in Detroit, WDET 101.9 FM (January 15)

Tax hauls, Outlier Media (January 15) [scroll down from lead article]

Study: Detroit creating a 1% local sales tax 'isn't worth the juice', The Detroit News (January 14)

Detroit local sales tax could raise $72 million but legal hurdles remain, WDIV-TV4 Detroit (Jan. 14)