Pocatello, ID vs Meridian, 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: Pocatello, ID and Meridian, 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 Pocatello, ID at $963 per resident and in Meridian, ID at $745.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 308942% of total revenue in Pocatello, ID and 41432% in Meridian, ID.
Summary
Pocatello spends 85.6% 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 | $1,118 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $279 | $418 |
| Income Tax | $1,817 | $102 |
| Intergovernmental | $4 | $4 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,593 | $905 |
| Other | $3,385 | $1,770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $212 | $115 |
| Highways & Roads | $291 | $0 |
| Education | $43 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $961 | $0 |
| Health | $342 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $138 | $840 |
| Parks & Recreation | $963 | $745 |
| Housing | $2,832 | $2,058 |
| Sewerage | $123 | $551 |
| Utilities | $3,313 | $972 |
| Interest on Debt | $495 | $0 |
| Other | $3,527 | $1,852 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.