West Hartford, CT vs Norwalk, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Norwalk, CT and West Hartford, CT spend within 6.0% of each other per resident — $52,486 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 61/100 (grade C) for Norwalk, CT — a 14-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 Norwalk, CT at $34,497.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 3% of total revenue in West Hartford, CT and 23% in Norwalk, CT.
Summary
Norwalk spends 5.6% more per capita than West Hartford ($2,956/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 | $723 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,341 | $9,012 |
| Other | $1,522 | $4,487 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $464 | $2,529 |
| Highways & Roads | $387 | $0 |
| Education | $36,675 | $34,497 |
| Public Welfare | $1,942 | $2,362 |
| Health | $505 | $381 |
| Hospitals | $539 | $97 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,675 | $510 |
| Housing | $2,852 | $2,693 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $123 |
| Utilities | $17 | $66 |
| Other | $4,475 | $9,227 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.