Montana vs Nebraska

Two $1.2B stocks that recency pulls apart

Readers who rank states only on stacked dollars will call Montana and Nebraska a tie at $1.2B versus $1.2B. That is the all-years USAspending.gov obligation stock, not the latest year and not cash paid. Nebraska’s $352.3M FY2026 slice versus Montana’s $212.9M is the cut that breaks the tie. Recency favors the larger Census count and the thicker award log.

Population is the other splitter. Nebraska’s 2,005,465 residents versus Montana’s 1,137,233 means Montana’s $1.2B stock is doing more work per person. Intensity agrees, narrowly: $187.18 per capita in Montana versus $175.68 in Nebraska. Cite USAspending.gov. Keep both ratios labeled as Census-based packet figures.

Award volume follows Nebraska, 36,000 versus 21,487. A thicker log on a matched stacked stock is consistent with more actions rather than a larger all-years total. Row count is not average award size. The packet does not report means from 36,000 or 21,487. Do not divide $1.2B by those row totals.

Building construction versus other computer related services

Montana’s lead NAICS is commercial and institutional building construction. Nebraska’s is other computer related services. A construction peak and a computer-services peak on matched $1.2B stocks are different mixes, not a reason to treat the files as duplicates. Building construction is a first read on Montana. Other computer related services are a first read on Nebraska.

Nebraska’s services peak sits beside the $352.3M FY2026 lead and 36,000 awards. Montana’s construction peak sits beside the $187.18 per-capita edge and 21,487 awards. Use the Montana and Nebraska state hubs for agencies and recipients. Both peaks are USAspending.gov obligation mixes. Outlays are not listed.

Questions

Does Montana or Nebraska have more federal spending?

Stacked USAspending.gov obligations are matched at $1.2B in Montana and $1.2B in Nebraska. Nebraska leads FY2026 obligations, $352.3M versus $212.9M, and awards, 36,000 versus 21,487. Montana leads spending per capita, $187.18 versus $175.68, on 1,137,233 residents against 2,005,465. Both dollar series are USAspending.gov obligations, not outlays.

Why does Nebraska lead FY2026 if the stacked stocks match?

Stacked stocks mix years; FY2026 is a recency slice. Nebraska’s latest-year obligations are $352.3M against Montana’s $212.9M. The all-years totals remain $1.2B versus $1.2B. Both cuts are USAspending.gov obligations, not outlays. Recency does not convert either amount into Treasury cash.

What industries lead in Montana and Nebraska?

Montana’s top industry is commercial and institutional building construction. Nebraska’s is other computer related services. Those labels are the largest NAICS slices on matched $1.2B stocks. Award counts are 21,487 in Montana and 36,000 in Nebraska. The rest of each mix sits outside those peaks.

Are Montana vs Nebraska figures Treasury outlays?

No. The $1.2B and $1.2B totals, and FY2026 amounts of $212.9M and $352.3M, are USAspending.gov obligations. Outlays are cash payments and can lag behind commitments. Spending per capita ($187.18 vs $175.68) uses Census population where present. This packet does not publish outlays.