New Britain, CT vs Hartford, 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 New Britain, CT at $32,605 per resident and in Hartford, CT at $39,340.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in New Britain, CT and 26% in Hartford, CT.
Summary
Hartford spends 37.8% 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 | $0 | $1,103 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $9 |
| Intergovernmental | $43,590 | $10,322 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,634 | $0 |
| Other | $3,148 | $739 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $595 | $384 |
| Highways & Roads | $410 | $0 |
| Education | $32,605 | $39,340 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $1,535 |
| Health | $469 | $1,038 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $5,508 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,240 | $1,661 |
| Housing | $6,454 | $4,670 |
| Sewerage | $94 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,197 | $298 |
| Other | $3,650 | $22,228 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.