Bristol, CT vs Hartford, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Hartford, CT outspends Bristol, CT by a wide margin per resident — $76,660 versus $44,977, a 70% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Hartford, CT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 40/100 (grade D) for Bristol, CT — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Hartford, 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 Hartford, CT at $39,340.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bristol, CT and 26% in Hartford, CT.
Summary
Hartford spends 41.3% more per capita than Bristol ($31,684/person difference). Hartford, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $89 | $1,103 |
| Income Tax | $67 | $9 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,060 | $10,322 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,528 | $0 |
| Other | $2,307 | $739 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $379 | $384 |
| Highways & Roads | $219 | $0 |
| Education | $30,607 | $39,340 |
| Public Welfare | $1,237 | $1,535 |
| Health | $413 | $1,038 |
| Hospitals | $270 | $5,508 |
| Parks & Recreation | $777 | $1,661 |
| Housing | $3,405 | $4,670 |
| Sewerage | $112 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,175 | $298 |
| Other | $5,384 | $22,228 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.