Philadelphia, PA vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA outspends Austin, TX by a wide margin per resident — $56,272 versus $21,772, a 158% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Austin, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 45/100 (grade D) for Philadelphia, PA — a 30-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Philadelphia, PA carries the lighter load at $1,069 per resident versus $1,229 for Austin, TX. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Philadelphia, PA leads with fire protection at $7,082 per resident, while Austin, TX leads with parks and recreation at $1,801.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 16% of total revenue in Philadelphia, PA and 18% in Austin, TX.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 158.5% more per capita than Austin ($34,500/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $107 | $526 |
| Income Tax | $8 | $1,465 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,288 | $14,031 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,790 | $3,247 |
| Other | $4,029 | $5,645 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,505 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $7,082 | $634 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,215 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $51 |
| Public Welfare | $1,456 | $1,837 |
| Health | $229 | $517 |
| Hospitals | $4,048 | $664 |
| Parks & Recreation | $593 | $1,801 |
| Housing | $4,902 | $3,741 |
| Sewerage | $325 | $865 |
| Utilities | $4,222 | $3,264 |
| Interest on Debt | $3 | $0 |
| Other | $30,692 | $8,399 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.