Bethlehem, PA vs Lancaster, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Lancaster spends 71.8% more per capita than Bethlehem ($36,883/person difference). Bethlehem, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 88/100).
Fiscal Health Score
A
88/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency86
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
C
51/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Bethlehem
Lancaster
Total Spending
$1.1B
$3.0B
Spending / Capita
$14,468
$51,351
Total Revenue
$1.9B
$1.4B
Revenue / Capita
$25,113
$24,786
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
76,555
57,970
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Police
Bethlehem$0
Lancaster$5,263
Fire Protection
Bethlehem$1,642
Lancaster$4,067
Highways & Roads
Bethlehem$668
Lancaster$500
Parks & Recreation
Bethlehem$634
Lancaster$278
Health
Bethlehem$187
Lancaster$417
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
BethlehemLancaster
| Property Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $405 | $72 |
| Income Tax | $308 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,237 | $24,786 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,296 | $0 |
| Other | $3,969 | $4,613 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
BethlehemLancaster
| Police | $0 | $5,263 |
| Fire Protection | $1,642 | $4,067 |
| Highways & Roads | $668 | $500 |
| Public Welfare | $1,218 | $24 |
| Health | $187 | $417 |
| Hospitals | $526 | $6,387 |
| Parks & Recreation | $634 | $278 |
| Housing | $2,229 | $2,619 |
| Sewerage | $68 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,000 | $7,457 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $76 |
| Other | $5,296 | $24,262 |
A
Bethlehem, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 88/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
Lancaster, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health