Idaho Falls, ID vs Meridian, ID
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Idaho Falls, ID outspends Meridian, ID by a wide margin per resident — $14,232 versus $7,134, a 99% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Meridian, ID holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 54/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Idaho Falls, ID — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Meridian, ID carries the lighter load at $449 per resident versus $641 for Idaho Falls, ID. 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 Meridian, ID at $745.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Idaho Falls, ID at 100% of total revenue, whereas Meridian, ID relies most on other revenue at 41432%.
Summary
Idaho Falls spends 99.5% more per capita than Meridian ($7,098/person difference). Meridian, ID 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 | $77 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $990 | $418 |
| Income Tax | $897 | $102 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,285 | $4 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,201 | $905 |
| Other | $3,106 | $1,770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $281 | $115 |
| Highways & Roads | $226 | $0 |
| Education | $232 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,182 | $0 |
| Health | $468 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $874 | $840 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,249 | $745 |
| Housing | $2,890 | $2,058 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $551 |
| Utilities | $1,518 | $972 |
| Other | $4,312 | $1,852 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.