Memphis, TN vs Philadelphia, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $56,272 versus $22,111, a 155% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 45/100 (grade D) for Philadelphia, PA — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $1,069 for Philadelphia, PA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while Philadelphia, PA leads with fire protection at $7,082.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 16% in Philadelphia, PA.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 60.7% more per capita than Memphis ($34,161/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $107 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $8 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $6,288 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $2,790 |
| Other | $3,994 | $4,029 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,505 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $7,082 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $1,215 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $1,456 |
| Health | $391 | $229 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $4,048 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $593 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $4,902 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $325 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $4,222 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $3 |
| Other | $8,850 | $30,692 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.