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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Reading, PA vs Erie, PA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

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

City A
Reading, PA
Pop. 94,601
A
86/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency74
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Erie, PA
Pop. 94,826
D
42/100
Budget Balance7
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Reading
Erie
Total Spending
$1.5B
$4.1B
Spending / Capita
$16,327
$43,394
Total Revenue
$2.1B
$307.4M
Revenue / Capita
$22,211
$3,241
Total Debt
$8.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$87
$0
Population
94,601
94,826
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Reading$0
Erie$3,410
Fire Protection
Reading$256
Erie$534
Highways & Roads
Reading$92
Erie$1,399
Parks & Recreation
Reading$826
Erie$0
Health
Reading$180
Erie$788

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ReadingErie
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)

ReadingErie
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
A
Reading, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 86/100
Excellent fiscal health
D
Erie, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 42/100
Below average fiscal health

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