Idaho Falls, ID vs Boise City, 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 Idaho Falls, ID at $2,249 per resident and in Boise City, ID at $1,842.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Idaho Falls, ID at 100% of total revenue, whereas Boise City, ID relies most on other revenue at 84%.
Summary
Boise City spends 3.1% 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 | $77 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $990 | $600 |
| Income Tax | $897 | $1,689 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,285 | $3,281 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,201 | $0 |
| Other | $3,106 | $4,259 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $281 | $1,036 |
| Highways & Roads | $226 | $154 |
| Education | $232 | $28 |
| Public Welfare | $1,182 | $0 |
| Health | $468 | $610 |
| Hospitals | $874 | $1,231 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,249 | $1,842 |
| Housing | $2,890 | $2,997 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $137 |
| Utilities | $1,518 | $1,636 |
| Other | $4,312 | $5,019 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.