Norwalk, CT vs Waterbury, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Waterbury, CT and Norwalk, CT spend within 5.6% of each other per resident — $55,426 versus $52,486 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Norwalk, CT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Waterbury, CT — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Norwalk, CT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Waterbury, CT carries $108 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Norwalk, CT at $34,497 per resident and in Waterbury, CT at $33,920.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 23% of total revenue in Norwalk, CT and 100% in Waterbury, CT.
Summary
Waterbury spends 5.3% more per capita than Norwalk ($2,940/person difference). Norwalk, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $723 | $251 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $3 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,012 | $42,242 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,249 |
| Other | $4,487 | $2,485 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,529 | $2,439 |
| Education | $34,497 | $33,920 |
| Public Welfare | $2,362 | $1,768 |
| Health | $381 | $173 |
| Hospitals | $97 | $313 |
| Parks & Recreation | $510 | $161 |
| Housing | $2,693 | $3,627 |
| Sewerage | $123 | $74 |
| Utilities | $66 | $869 |
| Other | $9,227 | $12,083 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.