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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Bristol, CT vs Danbury, CT

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Bristol, CT and Danbury, CT spend within 3.7% of each other per resident — $44,977 versus $43,358 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Danbury, CT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 60/100 (grade C) against 40/100 (grade D) for Bristol, CT — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Bristol, CT carries the lighter load at $47 per resident versus $129 for Danbury, CT. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Bristol, CT at $30,607 per resident and in Danbury, CT at $27,827.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Bristol, CT at 100% of total revenue, whereas Danbury, CT relies most on other revenue at 14%.

Summary

Bristol spends 3.7% more per capita than Danbury ($1,619/person difference). Danbury, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 60/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Bristol, CT
Pop. 61,052
D
40/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Danbury, CT
Pop. 86,456
C
60/100
Budget Balance40
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bristol
Danbury
Total Spending
$2.7B
$3.7B
Spending / Capita
$44,977
$43,358
Total Revenue
$1.2B
$1.9B
Revenue / Capita
$20,060
$21,950
Total Debt
$2.9M
$11.2M
Debt / Capita
$47
$129
Population
61,052
86,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Bristol$379
Danbury$357
Highways & Roads
Bristol$219
Danbury$264
Parks & Recreation
Bristol$777
Danbury$751
Education
Bristol$30,607
Danbury$27,827
Health
Bristol$413
Danbury$290

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BristolDanbury
Sales Tax
$89
$442
Income Tax
$67
$0
Intergovernmental
$20,060
$2,313
Charges & Fees
$1,528
$1,180
Other
$2,307
$3,156

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BristolDanbury
Fire Protection
$379
$357
Highways & Roads
$219
$264
Education
$30,607
$27,827
Public Welfare
$1,237
$913
Health
$413
$290
Hospitals
$270
$53
Parks & Recreation
$777
$751
Housing
$3,405
$2,419
Sewerage
$112
$64
Utilities
$2,175
$984
Other
$5,384
$9,436
D
Bristol, CT
Fiscal Health Score: 40/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Danbury, CT
Fiscal Health Score: 60/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.