Reading, PA vs Lancaster, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Lancaster spends 68.2% more per capita than Reading ($35,023/person difference). Reading, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 86/100).
Fiscal Health Score
A
86/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency74
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
C
51/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Reading
Lancaster
Total Spending
$1.5B
$3.0B
Spending / Capita
$16,327
$51,351
Total Revenue
$2.1B
$1.4B
Revenue / Capita
$22,211
$24,786
Total Debt
$8.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$87
$0
Population
94,601
57,970
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Police
Reading$0
Lancaster$5,263
Fire Protection
Reading$256
Lancaster$4,067
Highways & Roads
Reading$92
Lancaster$500
Parks & Recreation
Reading$826
Lancaster$278
Health
Reading$180
Lancaster$417
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
ReadingLancaster
| Property Tax | $47 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $60 | $72 |
| Income Tax | $956 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $767 | $24,786 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,742 | $0 |
| Other | $6,157 | $4,613 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
ReadingLancaster
| Police | $0 | $5,263 |
| Fire Protection | $256 | $4,067 |
| Highways & Roads | $92 | $500 |
| Public Welfare | $1,502 | $24 |
| Health | $180 | $417 |
| Hospitals | $672 | $6,387 |
| Parks & Recreation | $826 | $278 |
| Housing | $4,415 | $2,619 |
| Utilities | $3,304 | $7,457 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $76 |
| Other | $5,080 | $24,262 |
A
Reading, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 86/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
Lancaster, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health