Erie, PA vs Allentown, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Erie, PA outspends Allentown, PA by a wide margin per resident — $43,394 versus $15,252, a 185% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Allentown, PA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 68/100 (grade B) against 42/100 (grade D) for Erie, PA — a 26-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: Erie, PA leads with police at $3,410 per resident, while Allentown, PA leads with parks and recreation at $620.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 200% of total revenue in Erie, PA and 42% in Allentown, PA.
Summary
Erie spends 184.5% more per capita than Allentown ($28,141/person difference). Allentown, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $37 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $55 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,166 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,241 | $210 |
| Other | $6,483 | $3,410 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $3,410 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $534 | $333 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,399 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $61 | $1,275 |
| Health | $788 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $403 | $1,505 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $620 |
| Housing | $0 | $3,312 |
| Sewerage | $76 | $0 |
| Utilities | $21,061 | $2,206 |
| Other | $15,662 | $6,001 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.