Erie, PA vs Reading, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Erie, PA outspends Reading, PA by a wide margin per resident — $43,394 versus $16,327, a 166% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Reading, PA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 86/100 (grade A) against 42/100 (grade D) for Erie, PA — a 44-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Erie, PA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Reading, PA carries $87 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Erie, PA leads with police at $3,410 per resident, while Reading, PA leads with parks and recreation at $826.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 200% of total revenue in Erie, PA and 28% in Reading, PA.
Summary
Erie spends 165.8% more per capita than Reading ($27,066/person difference). Reading, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 86/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $47 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $60 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $956 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,241 | $767 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,742 |
| Other | $6,483 | $6,157 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $3,410 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $534 | $256 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,399 | $92 |
| Public Welfare | $61 | $1,502 |
| Health | $788 | $180 |
| Hospitals | $403 | $672 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $826 |
| Housing | $0 | $4,415 |
| Sewerage | $76 | $0 |
| Utilities | $21,061 | $3,304 |
| Other | $15,662 | $5,080 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.