Bozeman, MT vs Great Falls, MT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bozeman, MT outspends Great Falls, MT by a wide margin per resident — $15,168 versus $8,656, a 75% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Great Falls, MT edges Bozeman, MT on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 54/100 (grade C) to 52/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Bozeman, MT carries the lighter load at $649 per resident versus $1,490 for Great Falls, MT. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Bozeman, MT at $1,158 per resident and in Great Falls, MT at $1,064.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bozeman, MT and 100% in Great Falls, MT.
Summary
Bozeman spends 75.2% more per capita than Great Falls ($6,511/person difference). Great Falls, MT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 54/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1,537 | $48 |
| Sales Tax | $257 | $595 |
| Income Tax | $1,098 | $882 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,285 | $10,814 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,302 | $2,342 |
| Other | $3,290 | $2,571 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $225 | $251 |
| Highways & Roads | $342 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,379 | $755 |
| Health | $652 | $229 |
| Hospitals | $52 | $525 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,158 | $1,064 |
| Housing | $2,467 | $1,988 |
| Sewerage | $588 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,995 | $1,755 |
| Other | $4,311 | $2,089 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.