Philadelphia, PA vs Lancaster, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA and Lancaster, PA spend within 9.6% of each other per resident — $56,272 versus $51,351 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Lancaster, PA edges Philadelphia, PA on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 51/100 (grade C) to 45/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Lancaster, PA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Philadelphia, PA carries $1,069 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Philadelphia, PA leads with fire protection at $7,082 per resident, while Lancaster, PA leads with police at $5,263.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 16% of total revenue in Philadelphia, PA and 100% in Lancaster, PA.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 9.6% more per capita than Lancaster ($4,921/person difference). Lancaster, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $107 | $72 |
| Income Tax | $8 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,288 | $24,786 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,790 | $0 |
| Other | $4,029 | $4,613 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,505 | $5,263 |
| Fire Protection | $7,082 | $4,067 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,215 | $500 |
| Public Welfare | $1,456 | $24 |
| Health | $229 | $417 |
| Hospitals | $4,048 | $6,387 |
| Parks & Recreation | $593 | $278 |
| Housing | $4,902 | $2,619 |
| Sewerage | $325 | $0 |
| Utilities | $4,222 | $7,457 |
| Interest on Debt | $3 | $76 |
| Other | $30,692 | $24,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.