Bethlehem, PA vs Allentown, 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: Bethlehem, PA leads with fire protection at $1,642 per resident, while Allentown, PA leads with parks and recreation at $620.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 16% of total revenue in Bethlehem, PA and 42% in Allentown, PA.
Summary
Allentown spends 5.1% 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 | $1 | $37 |
| Sales Tax | $405 | $55 |
| Income Tax | $308 | $1,166 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,237 | $210 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,296 | $0 |
| Other | $3,969 | $3,410 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,642 | $333 |
| Highways & Roads | $668 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,218 | $1,275 |
| Health | $187 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $526 | $1,505 |
| Parks & Recreation | $634 | $620 |
| Housing | $2,229 | $3,312 |
| Sewerage | $68 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,000 | $2,206 |
| Other | $5,296 | $6,001 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.