Bristol, CT vs Bridgeport, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bridgeport, CT and Bristol, CT spend within 6.8% of each other per resident — $48,031 versus $44,977 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Bridgeport, CT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 40/100 (grade D) for Bristol, CT — a 35-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Bridgeport, CT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Bristol, CT carries $47 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Bristol, CT at $30,607 per resident and in Bridgeport, CT at $27,902.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Bristol, CT at 100% of total revenue, whereas Bridgeport, CT relies most on other revenue at 5%.
Summary
Bridgeport spends 6.4% more per capita than Bristol ($3,055/person difference). Bridgeport, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $89 | $308 |
| Income Tax | $67 | $15 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,060 | $1,555 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,528 | $0 |
| Other | $2,307 | $3,152 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $379 | $418 |
| Highways & Roads | $219 | $1,022 |
| Education | $30,607 | $27,902 |
| Public Welfare | $1,237 | $345 |
| Health | $413 | $669 |
| Hospitals | $270 | $293 |
| Parks & Recreation | $777 | $547 |
| Housing | $3,405 | $6,831 |
| Sewerage | $112 | $261 |
| Utilities | $2,175 | $957 |
| Other | $5,384 | $8,786 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.