Reading, PA vs Erie, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Erie, PA outspends Reading, PA by a wide margin per resident — $43,394 versus $16,327, a 166% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Reading, PA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 86/100 (grade A) against 42/100 (grade D) for Erie, PA — a 44-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Erie, PA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Reading, PA carries $87 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Reading, PA leads with parks and recreation at $826 per resident, while Erie, PA leads with police at $3,410.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 28% of total revenue in Reading, PA and 200% in Erie, PA.
Summary
Erie spends 62.4% more per capita than Reading ($27,066/person difference). Reading, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 86/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $47 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $60 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $956 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $767 | $3,241 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,742 | $0 |
| Other | $6,157 | $6,483 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $3,410 |
| Fire Protection | $256 | $534 |
| Highways & Roads | $92 | $1,399 |
| Public Welfare | $1,502 | $61 |
| Health | $180 | $788 |
| Hospitals | $672 | $403 |
| Parks & Recreation | $826 | $0 |
| Housing | $4,415 | $0 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $76 |
| Utilities | $3,304 | $21,061 |
| Other | $5,080 | $15,662 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.