Meridian, ID vs Pocatello, ID
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Pocatello, ID outspends Meridian, ID by a wide margin per resident — $13,241 versus $7,134, a 86% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
On the CitySpend Fiscal Health Score the two are level: Meridian, ID and Pocatello, ID both land at 54/100 (grade C and C respectively), so the deciding factors sit in the underlying six-factor breakdown rather than the rolled-up grade.
Pocatello, ID reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Meridian, ID carries $449 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Meridian, ID at $745 per resident and in Pocatello, ID at $963.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 41432% of total revenue in Meridian, ID and 308942% in Pocatello, ID.
Summary
Pocatello spends 46.1% more per capita than Meridian ($6,107/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $1,118 |
| Sales Tax | $418 | $279 |
| Income Tax | $102 | $1,817 |
| Intergovernmental | $4 | $4 |
| Charges & Fees | $905 | $2,593 |
| Other | $1,770 | $3,385 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $115 | $212 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $291 |
| Education | $0 | $43 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $961 |
| Health | $0 | $342 |
| Hospitals | $840 | $138 |
| Parks & Recreation | $745 | $963 |
| Housing | $2,058 | $2,832 |
| Sewerage | $551 | $123 |
| Utilities | $972 | $3,313 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $495 |
| Other | $1,852 | $3,527 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.