The Wall Street Journal is launching a series that delves into the fiscal health of the 250 largest U.S. cities.

What we found: Cities nationwide are grappling with the same types of underlying issues that sunk Detroit, which filed for the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy this summer. The magnitude of the problems is different, but the challenges are shared.

Our work was based on an exclusive data set shared by Merritt Research Services LLC, an Iowa firm that mines thousands of cities’ public financial filings. You can mine your own city’s finances. Here are five resources to use. The articles, data and public filings will help you understand whether battered roads and sidewalks and higher taxes and fees point to deeper financial woes or just temporary strain.