Pocatello, ID vs Idaho Falls, 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 Pocatello, ID at $963 per resident and in Idaho Falls, ID at $2,249.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Pocatello, ID at 308942% of total revenue, whereas Idaho Falls, ID relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Idaho Falls spends 7.0% 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 | $1,118 | $77 |
| Sales Tax | $279 | $990 |
| Income Tax | $1,817 | $897 |
| Intergovernmental | $4 | $10,285 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,593 | $2,201 |
| Other | $3,385 | $3,106 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $212 | $281 |
| Highways & Roads | $291 | $226 |
| Education | $43 | $232 |
| Public Welfare | $961 | $1,182 |
| Health | $342 | $468 |
| Hospitals | $138 | $874 |
| Parks & Recreation | $963 | $2,249 |
| Housing | $2,832 | $2,890 |
| Sewerage | $123 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,313 | $1,518 |
| Interest on Debt | $495 | $0 |
| Other | $3,527 | $4,312 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.