Reading, PA vs Allentown, 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 Reading, PA at $826 per resident and in Allentown, PA at $620.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 28% of total revenue in Reading, PA and 42% in Allentown, PA.
Summary
Reading spends 7.0% 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 | $47 | $37 |
| Sales Tax | $60 | $55 |
| Income Tax | $956 | $1,166 |
| Intergovernmental | $767 | $210 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,742 | $0 |
| Other | $6,157 | $3,410 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $256 | $333 |
| Highways & Roads | $92 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,502 | $1,275 |
| Health | $180 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $672 | $1,505 |
| Parks & Recreation | $826 | $620 |
| Housing | $4,415 | $3,312 |
| Utilities | $3,304 | $2,206 |
| Other | $5,080 | $6,001 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.