Boise City, ID vs Idaho Falls, ID
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Boise City, ID and Idaho Falls, ID spend within 3.2% of each other per resident — $14,689 versus $14,232 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Boise City, ID holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 59/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Idaho Falls, ID — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Boise City, ID reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Idaho Falls, ID carries $641 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Boise City, ID at $1,842 per resident and in Idaho Falls, ID at $2,249.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Boise City, ID at 84% of total revenue, whereas Idaho Falls, ID relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Boise City spends 3.2% more per capita than Idaho Falls ($457/person difference). Boise City, ID has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $77 |
| Sales Tax | $600 | $990 |
| Income Tax | $1,689 | $897 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,281 | $10,285 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,201 |
| Other | $4,259 | $3,106 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,036 | $281 |
| Highways & Roads | $154 | $226 |
| Education | $28 | $232 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $1,182 |
| Health | $610 | $468 |
| Hospitals | $1,231 | $874 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,842 | $2,249 |
| Housing | $2,997 | $2,890 |
| Sewerage | $137 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,636 | $1,518 |
| Other | $5,019 | $4,312 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.