New Britain, CT vs West Hartford, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
West Hartford, CT and New Britain, CT spend within 3.8% of each other per resident — $49,530 versus $47,715 — 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 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 West Hartford, CT at $36,675.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in New Britain, CT and 3% in West Hartford, CT.
Summary
West Hartford spends 3.7% more per capita than New Britain ($1,815/person difference). West Hartford, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $41 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $1,399 |
| Intergovernmental | $43,590 | $2,341 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,634 | $0 |
| Other | $3,148 | $1,522 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $595 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $410 | $387 |
| Education | $32,605 | $36,675 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $1,942 |
| Health | $469 | $505 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $539 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,240 | $1,675 |
| Housing | $6,454 | $2,852 |
| Sewerage | $94 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,197 | $17 |
| Other | $3,650 | $4,475 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.