Pocatello, ID vs Boise City, ID
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Boise City, ID and Pocatello, ID spend within 10.9% of each other per resident — $14,689 versus $13,241 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Boise City, ID edges Pocatello, ID on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 59/100 (grade C) to 54/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Pocatello, ID at $963 per resident and in Boise City, ID at $1,842.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 308942% of total revenue in Pocatello, ID and 84% in Boise City, ID.
Summary
Boise City spends 9.9% more per capita than Pocatello ($1,448/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 | $1,118 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $279 | $600 |
| Income Tax | $1,817 | $1,689 |
| Intergovernmental | $4 | $3,281 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,593 | $0 |
| Other | $3,385 | $4,259 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $212 | $1,036 |
| Highways & Roads | $291 | $154 |
| Education | $43 | $28 |
| Public Welfare | $961 | $0 |
| Health | $342 | $610 |
| Hospitals | $138 | $1,231 |
| Parks & Recreation | $963 | $1,842 |
| Housing | $2,832 | $2,997 |
| Sewerage | $123 | $137 |
| Utilities | $3,313 | $1,636 |
| Interest on Debt | $495 | $0 |
| Other | $3,527 | $5,019 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.