Billings, MT vs Missoula, MT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Missoula, MT and Billings, MT spend within 10.8% of each other per resident — $13,853 versus $12,501 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Missoula, MT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 89/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Billings, MT — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Missoula, MT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Billings, MT carries $1,158 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Billings, MT leads with parks and recreation at $883 per resident, while Missoula, MT leads with police at $2,547.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 17% of total revenue in Billings, MT and 14% in Missoula, MT.
Summary
Missoula spends 9.8% more per capita than Billings ($1,352/person difference). Missoula, MT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 89/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $787 | $8 |
| Sales Tax | $251 | $218 |
| Income Tax | $1,706 | $55 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,539 | $885 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,714 | $74 |
| Other | $2,720 | $2,405 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,547 |
| Fire Protection | $145 | $353 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $289 |
| Education | $0 | $31 |
| Public Welfare | $1,929 | $809 |
| Health | $330 | $493 |
| Hospitals | $105 | $520 |
| Parks & Recreation | $883 | $464 |
| Housing | $2,463 | $3,124 |
| Sewerage | $195 | $129 |
| Utilities | $2,914 | $856 |
| Interest on Debt | $535 | $0 |
| Other | $3,002 | $4,238 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.