Waterbury, CT vs Norwalk, 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 Waterbury, CT at $33,920 per resident and in Norwalk, CT at $34,497.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Waterbury, CT and 23% in Norwalk, CT.
Summary
Waterbury spends 5.6% 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 | $251 | $723 |
| Income Tax | $3 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $42,242 | $9,012 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,249 | $0 |
| Other | $2,485 | $4,487 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,439 | $2,529 |
| Education | $33,920 | $34,497 |
| Public Welfare | $1,768 | $2,362 |
| Health | $173 | $381 |
| Hospitals | $313 | $97 |
| Parks & Recreation | $161 | $510 |
| Housing | $3,627 | $2,693 |
| Sewerage | $74 | $123 |
| Utilities | $869 | $66 |
| Other | $12,083 | $9,227 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.