Hartford, CT vs Bristol, 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 Hartford, CT at $39,340 per resident and in Bristol, CT at $30,607.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 26% of total revenue in Hartford, CT and 100% in Bristol, CT.
Summary
Hartford spends 70.4% 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 | $1,103 | $89 |
| Income Tax | $9 | $67 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,322 | $20,060 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,528 |
| Other | $739 | $2,307 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $384 | $379 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $219 |
| Education | $39,340 | $30,607 |
| Public Welfare | $1,535 | $1,237 |
| Health | $1,038 | $413 |
| Hospitals | $5,508 | $270 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,661 | $777 |
| Housing | $4,670 | $3,405 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $112 |
| Utilities | $298 | $2,175 |
| Other | $22,228 | $5,384 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.