Allentown, PA vs Bethlehem, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Allentown, PA and Bethlehem, PA spend within 5.4% of each other per resident — $15,252 versus $14,468 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Bethlehem, PA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 88/100 (grade A) against 68/100 (grade B) for Allentown, PA — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Allentown, PA leads with parks and recreation at $620 per resident, while Bethlehem, PA leads with fire protection at $1,642.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 42% of total revenue in Allentown, PA and 16% in Bethlehem, PA.
Summary
Allentown spends 5.4% more per capita than Bethlehem ($785/person difference). Bethlehem, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 88/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $37 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $55 | $405 |
| Income Tax | $1,166 | $308 |
| Intergovernmental | $210 | $3,237 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,296 |
| Other | $3,410 | $3,969 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $333 | $1,642 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $668 |
| Public Welfare | $1,275 | $1,218 |
| Health | $0 | $187 |
| Hospitals | $1,505 | $526 |
| Parks & Recreation | $620 | $634 |
| Housing | $3,312 | $2,229 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $68 |
| Utilities | $2,206 | $2,000 |
| Other | $6,001 | $5,296 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.