Missoula, MT vs Bozeman, MT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bozeman, MT and Missoula, MT spend within 9.5% of each other per resident — $15,168 versus $13,853 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Missoula, MT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 89/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Bozeman, MT — a 37-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Missoula, MT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Bozeman, MT carries $649 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Missoula, MT leads with police at $2,547 per resident, while Bozeman, MT leads with parks and recreation at $1,158.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Missoula, MT at 14% of total revenue, whereas Bozeman, MT relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Bozeman spends 8.7% more per capita than Missoula ($1,315/person difference). Missoula, MT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 89/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $8 | $1,537 |
| Sales Tax | $218 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $55 | $1,098 |
| Intergovernmental | $885 | $20,285 |
| Charges & Fees | $74 | $2,302 |
| Other | $2,405 | $3,290 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,547 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $353 | $225 |
| Highways & Roads | $289 | $342 |
| Education | $31 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $809 | $1,379 |
| Health | $493 | $652 |
| Hospitals | $520 | $52 |
| Parks & Recreation | $464 | $1,158 |
| Housing | $3,124 | $2,467 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $588 |
| Utilities | $856 | $3,995 |
| Other | $4,238 | $4,311 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.