Lancaster, PA vs Philadelphia, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Philadelphia spends 8.7% more per capita than Lancaster ($4,921/person difference). Lancaster, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).
Fiscal Health Score
C
51/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Lancaster
Philadelphia
Total Spending
$3.0B
$89.7B
Spending / Capita
$51,351
$56,272
Total Revenue
$1.4B
$64.4B
Revenue / Capita
$24,786
$40,425
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,069
Population
57,970
1,593,208
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Police
Lancaster$5,263
Philadelphia$1,505
Fire Protection
Lancaster$4,067
Philadelphia$7,082
Highways & Roads
Lancaster$500
Philadelphia$1,215
Parks & Recreation
Lancaster$278
Philadelphia$593
Health
Lancaster$417
Philadelphia$229
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
LancasterPhiladelphia
| Sales Tax | $72 | $107 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $8 |
| Intergovernmental | $24,786 | $6,288 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,790 |
| Other | $4,613 | $4,029 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
LancasterPhiladelphia
| Police | $5,263 | $1,505 |
| Fire Protection | $4,067 | $7,082 |
| Highways & Roads | $500 | $1,215 |
| Public Welfare | $24 | $1,456 |
| Health | $417 | $229 |
| Hospitals | $6,387 | $4,048 |
| Parks & Recreation | $278 | $593 |
| Housing | $2,619 | $4,902 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $325 |
| Utilities | $7,457 | $4,222 |
| Interest on Debt | $76 | $3 |
| Other | $24,262 | $30,692 |
C
Lancaster, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health