Montana vs West Virginia

West Virginia’s $1.7B edges Montana’s $1.2B

On stacked USAspending.gov obligations, West Virginia leads $1.7B to $1.2B, about 1.3×. Population also favors West Virginia, 1,769,979 to 1,137,233, about 1.6×. Because people diverge more than dollars, Montana posts the higher per-capita figure: $187.18 against $113.44. Two small files can still invert intensity.

Award counts favor Montana, 21,487 versus 14,302. Montana’s file is busier in rows on a smaller dollar stock. West Virginia’s 14,302 actions on $1.7B imply a heavier typical booking. Dollars, rows, and per-person intensity each pick a different leader in this pair.

Montana’s 21,487 awards versus West Virginia’s 14,302 is a row lead for the state that trails the stacked $1.2B versus $1.7B stock. Combined with $187.18 versus $113.44 per capita, Montana leads two of four headline rankings on a smaller dollar file.

Building construction in Montana, ammunition manufacturing in West Virginia

Montana’s top industry is commercial and institutional building construction. West Virginia’s is ammunition (except small arms) manufacturing. Those are unlike peaks: federal building work versus ammunition production. They sit on $1.2B and $1.7B, not on a shared supply chain.

An ammunition-manufacturing lead can concentrate large production awards inside only 14,302 West Virginia actions. A construction lead can spread across 21,487 Montana actions with a different size mix. Each label is the tallest bar. Agency and recipient detail belongs on the Montana and West Virginia hubs.

Commercial and institutional building construction versus ammunition (except small arms) manufacturing should not be flattened into a single “industrial” story. They are different peaks on 1,137,233 and 1,769,979 residents. FY2026’s $212.9M versus $200.8M is a third ranking that also tilts toward Montana, still as USAspending.gov obligations.

Questions

Does West Virginia or Montana have more federal spending?

West Virginia leads stacked USAspending.gov obligations $1.7B to Montana’s $1.2B. Montana leads spending per capita ($187.18 vs $113.44) and award count (21,487 vs 14,302). Populations are 1,137,233 in Montana and 1,769,979 in West Virginia. FY2026 obligations are $212.9M in Montana and $200.8M in West Virginia.

Why does Montana show higher federal spending per capita?

Montana’s $1.2B on 1,137,233 residents produces $187.18 per capita. West Virginia’s $1.7B on 1,769,979 residents produces $113.44. Population favors West Virginia more than dollars do, so intensity flips. Montana also has more awards (21,487 vs 14,302). These figures are USAspending.gov obligations, not Treasury outlays.

What industries lead Montana and West Virginia federal awards?

Montana’s top industry is commercial and institutional building construction. West Virginia’s is ammunition (except small arms) manufacturing. Those slices sit on $1.2B and $1.7B. They are the largest industry groupings, not every award in 21,487 or 14,302 actions. These figures are USAspending.gov obligations, not Treasury outlays.

Are Montana vs West Virginia amounts Treasury outlays?

No. The $1.2B and $1.7B stacked totals, and FY2026 amounts of $212.9M and $200.8M, are USAspending.gov obligations. Outlays are cash payments and can lag. Spending per capita ($187.18 vs $113.44) uses Census population against obligations. These figures are USAspending.gov obligations, not Treasury outlays.