Waterbury, CT vs West Hartford, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Waterbury, CT and West Hartford, CT spend within 11.9% of each other per resident — $55,426 versus $49,530 — 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 41/100 (grade D) for Waterbury, CT — a 34-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
West Hartford, 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 West Hartford, CT at $36,675.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Waterbury, CT and 3% in West Hartford, CT.
Summary
Waterbury spends 11.9% more per capita than West Hartford ($5,896/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 | $251 | $1,399 |
| Income Tax | $3 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $42,242 | $2,341 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,249 | $0 |
| Other | $2,485 | $1,522 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,439 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $387 |
| Education | $33,920 | $36,675 |
| Public Welfare | $1,768 | $1,942 |
| Health | $173 | $505 |
| Hospitals | $313 | $539 |
| Parks & Recreation | $161 | $1,675 |
| Housing | $3,627 | $2,852 |
| Sewerage | $74 | $0 |
| Utilities | $869 | $17 |
| Other | $12,083 | $4,475 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.