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

Danbury, CT vs West Hartford, CT

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

West Hartford, CT and Danbury, CT spend within 14.2% of each other per resident — $49,530 versus $43,358 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

West Hartford, CT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 60/100 (grade C) for Danbury, CT — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

West Hartford, CT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Danbury, CT carries $129 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Danbury, CT at $27,827 per resident and in West Hartford, CT at $36,675.

They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Danbury, CT at 14% of total revenue, whereas West Hartford, CT relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 3%.

Summary

West Hartford spends 12.5% more per capita than Danbury ($6,172/person difference). West Hartford, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Danbury, CT
Pop. 86,456
C
60/100
Budget Balance40
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
West Hartford, CT
Pop. 64,088
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Danbury
West Hartford
Total Spending
$3.7B
$3.2B
Spending / Capita
$43,358
$49,530
Total Revenue
$1.9B
$4.6B
Revenue / Capita
$21,950
$71,274
Total Debt
$11.2M
$0
Debt / Capita
$129
$0
Population
86,456
64,088
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Danbury$357
West Hartford$464
Highways & Roads
Danbury$264
West Hartford$387
Parks & Recreation
Danbury$751
West Hartford$1,675
Education
Danbury$27,827
West Hartford$36,675
Health
Danbury$290
West Hartford$505

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DanburyWest Hartford
Property Tax
$0
$41
Sales Tax
$442
$1,399
Intergovernmental
$2,313
$2,341
Charges & Fees
$1,180
$0
Other
$3,156
$1,522

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DanburyWest Hartford
Fire Protection
$357
$464
Highways & Roads
$264
$387
Education
$27,827
$36,675
Public Welfare
$913
$1,942
Health
$290
$505
Hospitals
$53
$539
Parks & Recreation
$751
$1,675
Housing
$2,419
$2,852
Sewerage
$64
$0
Utilities
$984
$17
Other
$9,436
$4,475
C
Danbury, CT
Fiscal Health Score: 60/100
Average fiscal health
B
West Hartford, CT
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

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