West Hartford, CT vs New Britain, 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 West Hartford, CT at $36,675 per resident and in New Britain, CT at $32,605.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 3% of total revenue in West Hartford, CT and 100% in New Britain, CT.
Summary
West Hartford spends 3.8% 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 | $41 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $1,399 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,341 | $43,590 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,634 |
| Other | $1,522 | $3,148 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $464 | $595 |
| Highways & Roads | $387 | $410 |
| Education | $36,675 | $32,605 |
| Public Welfare | $1,942 | $0 |
| Health | $505 | $469 |
| Hospitals | $539 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,675 | $1,240 |
| Housing | $2,852 | $6,454 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $94 |
| Utilities | $17 | $2,197 |
| Other | $4,475 | $3,650 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.