Danbury, CT vs Bristol, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
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 Danbury, CT at $27,827 per resident and in Bristol, CT at $30,607.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Danbury, CT at 14% of total revenue, whereas Bristol, CT relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Bristol spends 3.6% more per capita than Danbury ($1,619/person difference). Danbury, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 60/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $442 | $89 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $67 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,313 | $20,060 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,180 | $1,528 |
| Other | $3,156 | $2,307 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $357 | $379 |
| Highways & Roads | $264 | $219 |
| Education | $27,827 | $30,607 |
| Public Welfare | $913 | $1,237 |
| Health | $290 | $413 |
| Hospitals | $53 | $270 |
| Parks & Recreation | $751 | $777 |
| Housing | $2,419 | $3,405 |
| Sewerage | $64 | $112 |
| Utilities | $984 | $2,175 |
| Other | $9,436 | $5,384 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.