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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Stamford, CT vs Bridgeport, CT

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Stamford, CT and Bridgeport, CT spend within 9.0% of each other per resident — $52,355 versus $48,031 — 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 61/100 (grade C) for Stamford, CT — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Bridgeport, CT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Stamford, CT carries $239 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Stamford, CT at $31,665 per resident and in Bridgeport, CT at $27,902.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 6% of total revenue in Stamford, CT and 5% in Bridgeport, CT.

Summary

Stamford spends 9.0% more per capita than Bridgeport ($4,324/person difference). Bridgeport, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Stamford, CT
Pop. 135,413
C
61/100
Budget Balance42
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Bridgeport, CT
Pop. 148,470
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Stamford
Bridgeport
Total Spending
$7.1B
$7.1B
Spending / Capita
$52,355
$48,031
Total Revenue
$5.2B
$9.0B
Revenue / Capita
$38,354
$60,953
Total Debt
$32.4M
$0
Debt / Capita
$239
$0
Population
135,413
148,470
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Stamford$615
Bridgeport$418
Highways & Roads
Stamford$865
Bridgeport$1,022
Parks & Recreation
Stamford$579
Bridgeport$547
Education
Stamford$31,665
Bridgeport$27,902
Health
Stamford$0
Bridgeport$669

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

StamfordBridgeport
Sales Tax
$690
$308
Income Tax
$262
$15
Intergovernmental
$1,226
$1,555
Other
$2,342
$3,152

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

StamfordBridgeport
Fire Protection
$615
$418
Highways & Roads
$865
$1,022
Education
$31,665
$27,902
Public Welfare
$597
$345
Health
$0
$669
Hospitals
$24
$293
Parks & Recreation
$579
$547
Housing
$3,222
$6,831
Sewerage
$0
$261
Utilities
$1,134
$957
Other
$13,653
$8,786
C
Stamford, CT
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
B
Bridgeport, CT
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.