New Britain, CT vs Bridgeport, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bridgeport, CT and New Britain, CT spend within 0.7% of each other per resident — $48,031 versus $47,715 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Bridgeport, CT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 44/100 (grade D) for New Britain, CT — a 31-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 New Britain, CT at $32,605 per resident and in Bridgeport, CT at $27,902.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in New Britain, CT at 100% of total revenue, whereas Bridgeport, CT relies most on other revenue at 5%.
Summary
Bridgeport spends 0.7% more per capita than New Britain ($317/person difference). Bridgeport, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $0 | $308 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $15 |
| Intergovernmental | $43,590 | $1,555 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,634 | $0 |
| Other | $3,148 | $3,152 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $595 | $418 |
| Highways & Roads | $410 | $1,022 |
| Education | $32,605 | $27,902 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $345 |
| Health | $469 | $669 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $293 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,240 | $547 |
| Housing | $6,454 | $6,831 |
| Sewerage | $94 | $261 |
| Utilities | $2,197 | $957 |
| Other | $3,650 | $8,786 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.