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

Seattle, WA vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Summary

Philadelphia spends 38.8% more per capita than Seattle ($21,809/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
Philadelphia
Total Spending
$25.3B
$89.7B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$56,272
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$64.4B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$40,425
Total Debt
$808.1M
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$1,069
Population
734,603
1,593,208
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Seattle$0
Philadelphia$1,505
Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Philadelphia$7,082
Highways & Roads
Seattle$0
Philadelphia$1,215
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Philadelphia$593
Education
Seattle$1,461
Philadelphia$0
Health
Seattle$1,131
Philadelphia$229

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattlePhiladelphia
Property Tax
$1,831
$0
Sales Tax
$1,094
$107
Income Tax
$3,496
$8
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$6,288
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$2,790
Other
$8,544
$4,029

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattlePhiladelphia
Police
$0
$1,505
Fire Protection
$210
$7,082
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,215
Education
$1,461
$0
Public Welfare
$3,439
$1,456
Health
$1,131
$229
Hospitals
$1,871
$4,048
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$593
Housing
$3,727
$4,902
Sewerage
$952
$325
Utilities
$6,489
$4,222
Interest on Debt
$0
$3
Other
$11,260
$30,692
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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