Idaho Falls, ID vs Pocatello, ID
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Idaho Falls, ID and Pocatello, ID spend within 7.5% of each other per resident — $14,232 versus $13,241 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Pocatello, 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.
Pocatello, 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 Pocatello, ID at $963.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Idaho Falls, ID at 100% of total revenue, whereas Pocatello, ID relies most on other revenue at 308942%.
Summary
Idaho Falls spends 7.5% more per capita than Pocatello ($991/person difference). Pocatello, 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 | $1,118 |
| Sales Tax | $990 | $279 |
| Income Tax | $897 | $1,817 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,285 | $4 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,201 | $2,593 |
| Other | $3,106 | $3,385 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $281 | $212 |
| Highways & Roads | $226 | $291 |
| Education | $232 | $43 |
| Public Welfare | $1,182 | $961 |
| Health | $468 | $342 |
| Hospitals | $874 | $138 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,249 | $963 |
| Housing | $2,890 | $2,832 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $123 |
| Utilities | $1,518 | $3,313 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $495 |
| Other | $4,312 | $3,527 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.