Hartford, CT vs New Britain, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Hartford, CT outspends New Britain, CT by a wide margin per resident — $76,660 versus $47,715, a 61% 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 44/100 (grade D) for New Britain, CT — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Hartford, CT at $39,340 per resident and in New Britain, CT at $32,605.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 26% of total revenue in Hartford, CT and 100% in New Britain, CT.
Summary
Hartford spends 60.7% more per capita than New Britain ($28,946/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 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $9 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,322 | $43,590 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,634 |
| Other | $739 | $3,148 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $384 | $595 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $410 |
| Education | $39,340 | $32,605 |
| Public Welfare | $1,535 | $0 |
| Health | $1,038 | $469 |
| Hospitals | $5,508 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,661 | $1,240 |
| Housing | $4,670 | $6,454 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $94 |
| Utilities | $298 | $2,197 |
| Other | $22,228 | $3,650 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.