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

Erie, PA

Population: 94,826 (2022) · Small Cities (50K–100K)

D
42/100

Below average — significant fiscal challenges in multiple areas

Total Spending
$4.1B
Per Capita
$43,394
Total Revenue
$307.4M
Total Debt
$0

Spending Breakdown

Utilities
48.5%$2.0B
Other
36.1%$1.5B
Police
7.9%$323.3M
Highways & Roads
3.2%$132.7M
Health
1.8%$74.7M
Fire Protection
1.2%$50.7M
Hospitals
0.9%$38.2M
Sewerage
0.2%$7.2M
Public Welfare
0.1%$5.8M

Spending data sourced from the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State & Local Government Finances. Per-capita comparisons use the Lincoln Institute's Fiscally Standardized Cities methodology for fair cross-city benchmarking.

Revenue Sources

Intergovernmental
100.0%$307.4M
Other
200.0%$614.8M

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police$3,410/person
Fire Protection$534/person
Highways & Roads$1,399/person
Health$788/person

Score Breakdown

Budget Balance & Reserves (25%)7/100
Debt Burden (20%)100/100
Pension Funding (20%)76/100
Spending Efficiency (15%)0/100
Revenue Diversity (10%)0/100
Trend Direction (10%)50/100

Compare Cities

See how Erie stacks up against another city.

vs Philadelphia, PAvs Pittsburgh, PAvs Allentown, PA
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023). Population from American Community Survey.

Other Cities in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Pop. 1.6M

D
Total Spending
$89.7B
Per Capita
$56,272

Pittsburgh, PA

Pop. 304K

B
Total Spending
$7.7B
Per Capita
$25,349

Allentown, PA

Pop. 125K

B
Total Spending
$1.9B
Per Capita
$15,252

Reading, PA

Pop. 95K

A
Total Spending
$1.5B
Per Capita
$16,327

Compare Erie With

Philadelphia, PA

Spending: $56,272/person · Grade: D

Pittsburgh, PA

Spending: $25,349/person · Grade: B

Allentown, PA

Spending: $15,252/person · Grade: B

Reading, PA

Spending: $16,327/person · Grade: A

Frequently Asked Questions

Erie, PA spends $43,394 per resident, based on total expenditures of $4.1B for a population of 94,826. The city has a Fiscal Health Score of D (42/100).

Erie, PA has total expenditures of $4.1B and total revenue of $307.4M. The city carries $0 in total debt, based on Census Bureau data from 2023.

Erie, PA employs 0 government workers, of which 0 are full-time. The average government salary is $0, with 0.0 employees per 10,000 residents.

Erie, PA has a Fiscal Health Score of D (42/100). This score evaluates budget balance, debt burden, pension funding, spending efficiency, revenue diversity, and 3-year fiscal trajectory compared to peer cities of similar population.

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