Bristol, CT vs New Britain, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
New Britain, CT and Bristol, CT spend within 6.1% of each other per resident — $47,715 versus $44,977 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
New Britain, CT edges Bristol, CT on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 44/100 (grade D) to 40/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
New Britain, 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 New Britain, CT at $32,605.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bristol, CT and 100% in New Britain, CT.
Summary
New Britain spends 5.7% more per capita than Bristol ($2,738/person difference). New Britain, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 44/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $89 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $67 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,060 | $43,590 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,528 | $1,634 |
| Other | $2,307 | $3,148 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $379 | $595 |
| Highways & Roads | $219 | $410 |
| Education | $30,607 | $32,605 |
| Public Welfare | $1,237 | $0 |
| Health | $413 | $469 |
| Hospitals | $270 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $777 | $1,240 |
| Housing | $3,405 | $6,454 |
| Sewerage | $112 | $94 |
| Utilities | $2,175 | $2,197 |
| Other | $5,384 | $3,650 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.