Allentown, PA vs Reading, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Reading, PA and Allentown, PA spend within 7.0% of each other per resident — $16,327 versus $15,252 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Reading, PA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 86/100 (grade A) against 68/100 (grade B) for Allentown, PA — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Allentown, PA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Reading, PA carries $87 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Allentown, PA at $620 per resident and in Reading, PA at $826.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 42% of total revenue in Allentown, PA and 28% in Reading, PA.
Summary
Reading spends 6.6% more per capita than Allentown ($1,075/person difference). Reading, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 86/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $37 | $47 |
| Sales Tax | $55 | $60 |
| Income Tax | $1,166 | $956 |
| Intergovernmental | $210 | $767 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,742 |
| Other | $3,410 | $6,157 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $333 | $256 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $92 |
| Public Welfare | $1,275 | $1,502 |
| Health | $0 | $180 |
| Hospitals | $1,505 | $672 |
| Parks & Recreation | $620 | $826 |
| Housing | $3,312 | $4,415 |
| Utilities | $2,206 | $3,304 |
| Other | $6,001 | $5,080 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.