Migration of people with self-sufficient life-style into conventionally oriented rural communities raises economic, as well as social, issues. Benefit-cost analysis was used to examine the fiscal impacts of eight public programs on two types of residents in an Idaho rural community. Data were obtained from a household survey and local, state, and federal revenue collections and expenditures. "Back-to-the-land" residents paid fewer costs than did conventional rural dwellers, but also received fewer benefits. Age and income were lower in the back-to-the-land population, however, which may have been primarily responsible for that group's smaller educational benefits (the largest program examined) and tax payments.