Great Falls, MT vs Bozeman, 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 Great Falls, MT at $1,064 per resident and in Bozeman, MT at $1,158.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Great Falls, MT and 100% in Bozeman, MT.
Summary
Bozeman spends 42.9% 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 | $48 | $1,537 |
| Sales Tax | $595 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $882 | $1,098 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,814 | $20,285 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,342 | $2,302 |
| Other | $2,571 | $3,290 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $251 | $225 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $342 |
| Public Welfare | $755 | $1,379 |
| Health | $229 | $652 |
| Hospitals | $525 | $52 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,064 | $1,158 |
| Housing | $1,988 | $2,467 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $588 |
| Utilities | $1,755 | $3,995 |
| Other | $2,089 | $4,311 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.