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

Scranton, PA vs Reading, PA

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

Summary

Reading spends 36.0% more per capita than Scranton ($5,881/person difference). Reading, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 86/100).

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
Reading, PA
Pop. 94,601
A
86/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency74
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Scranton
Reading
Total Spending
$795.1M
$1.5B
Spending / Capita
$10,446
$16,327
Total Revenue
$779.9M
$2.1B
Revenue / Capita
$10,245
$22,211
Total Debt
$0
$8.3M
Debt / Capita
$0
$87
Population
76,119
94,601
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Scranton$1,029
Reading$256
Highways & Roads
Scranton$156
Reading$92
Parks & Recreation
Scranton$130
Reading$826
Health
Scranton$411
Reading$180

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ScrantonReading
Property Tax
$28
$47
Sales Tax
$3
$60
Income Tax
$1,114
$956
Intergovernmental
$114
$767
Charges & Fees
$0
$3,742
Other
$47
$6,157

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ScrantonReading
Fire Protection
$1,029
$256
Highways & Roads
$156
$92
Public Welfare
$115
$1,502
Health
$411
$180
Hospitals
$0
$672
Parks & Recreation
$130
$826
Housing
$3,373
$4,415
Utilities
$668
$3,304
Other
$4,564
$5,080
A
Scranton, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health
A
Reading, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 86/100
Excellent fiscal health

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