Lancaster, PA vs Bethlehem, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Lancaster spends 254.9% more per capita than Bethlehem ($36,883/person difference). Bethlehem, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 88/100).
Fiscal Health Score
C
51/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
A
88/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency86
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Lancaster
Bethlehem
Total Spending
$3.0B
$1.1B
Spending / Capita
$51,351
$14,468
Total Revenue
$1.4B
$1.9B
Revenue / Capita
$24,786
$25,113
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
57,970
76,555
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Police
Lancaster$5,263
Bethlehem$0
Fire Protection
Lancaster$4,067
Bethlehem$1,642
Highways & Roads
Lancaster$500
Bethlehem$668
Parks & Recreation
Lancaster$278
Bethlehem$634
Health
Lancaster$417
Bethlehem$187
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
LancasterBethlehem
| Property Tax | $0 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $72 | $405 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $308 |
| Intergovernmental | $24,786 | $3,237 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,296 |
| Other | $4,613 | $3,969 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
LancasterBethlehem
| Police | $5,263 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $4,067 | $1,642 |
| Highways & Roads | $500 | $668 |
| Public Welfare | $24 | $1,218 |
| Health | $417 | $187 |
| Hospitals | $6,387 | $526 |
| Parks & Recreation | $278 | $634 |
| Housing | $2,619 | $2,229 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $68 |
| Utilities | $7,457 | $2,000 |
| Interest on Debt | $76 | $0 |
| Other | $24,262 | $5,296 |
C
Lancaster, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
A
Bethlehem, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 88/100
Excellent fiscal health