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

Reading, PA vs Pittsburgh, PA

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

Summary

Pittsburgh spends 35.6% more per capita than Reading ($9,022/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
Pittsburgh, PA
Pop. 303,843
B
69/100
Budget Balance36
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency64
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Reading
Pittsburgh
Total Spending
$1.5B
$7.7B
Spending / Capita
$16,327
$25,349
Total Revenue
$2.1B
$4.7B
Revenue / Capita
$22,211
$15,558
Total Debt
$8.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$87
$0
Population
94,601
303,843
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Reading$256
Pittsburgh$784
Highways & Roads
Reading$92
Pittsburgh$605
Parks & Recreation
Reading$826
Pittsburgh$399
Health
Reading$180
Pittsburgh$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ReadingPittsburgh
Property Tax
$47
$35
Sales Tax
$60
$201
Income Tax
$956
$31
Intergovernmental
$767
$2,136
Charges & Fees
$3,742
$0
Other
$6,157
$1,184

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ReadingPittsburgh
Fire Protection
$256
$784
Highways & Roads
$92
$605
Public Welfare
$1,502
$4,568
Health
$180
$0
Hospitals
$672
$214
Parks & Recreation
$826
$399
Housing
$4,415
$4,276
Sewerage
$0
$248
Utilities
$3,304
$690
Other
$5,080
$13,566
A
Reading, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 86/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
Pittsburgh, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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