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

Scranton, PA vs Lancaster, PA

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

Summary

Lancaster spends 79.7% more per capita than Scranton ($40,905/person difference). Scranton, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Scranton, PA
Pop. 76,119
A
83/100
Budget Balance73
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Lancaster, PA
Pop. 57,970
C
51/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Scranton
Lancaster
Total Spending
$795.1M
$3.0B
Spending / Capita
$10,446
$51,351
Total Revenue
$779.9M
$1.4B
Revenue / Capita
$10,245
$24,786
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
76,119
57,970
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Scranton$0
Lancaster$5,263
Fire Protection
Scranton$1,029
Lancaster$4,067
Highways & Roads
Scranton$156
Lancaster$500
Parks & Recreation
Scranton$130
Lancaster$278
Health
Scranton$411
Lancaster$417

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ScrantonLancaster
Property Tax
$28
$0
Sales Tax
$3
$72
Income Tax
$1,114
$0
Intergovernmental
$114
$24,786
Other
$47
$4,613

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ScrantonLancaster
Police
$0
$5,263
Fire Protection
$1,029
$4,067
Highways & Roads
$156
$500
Public Welfare
$115
$24
Health
$411
$417
Hospitals
$0
$6,387
Parks & Recreation
$130
$278
Housing
$3,373
$2,619
Utilities
$668
$7,457
Interest on Debt
$0
$76
Other
$4,564
$24,262
A
Scranton, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
Lancaster, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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