Philadelphia, PA vs Memphis, TN
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: Philadelphia, PA leads with fire protection at $7,082 per resident, while Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 16% of total revenue in Philadelphia, PA and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 154.5% 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 | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $107 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $8 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,288 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,790 | $2,077 |
| Other | $4,029 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,505 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $7,082 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,215 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $1,456 | $630 |
| Health | $229 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $4,048 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $593 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $4,902 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $325 | $0 |
| Utilities | $4,222 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $3 | $1,158 |
| Other | $30,692 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.