West Hartford, CT vs Stamford, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Stamford, CT and West Hartford, CT spend within 5.7% of each other per resident — $52,355 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 Stamford, CT — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
West Hartford, 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 West Hartford, CT at $36,675 per resident and in Stamford, CT at $31,665.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in West Hartford, CT at 3% of total revenue, whereas Stamford, CT relies most on other revenue at 6%.
Summary
Stamford spends 5.4% more per capita than West Hartford ($2,825/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 | $690 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $262 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,341 | $1,226 |
| Other | $1,522 | $2,342 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $464 | $615 |
| Highways & Roads | $387 | $865 |
| Education | $36,675 | $31,665 |
| Public Welfare | $1,942 | $597 |
| Health | $505 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $539 | $24 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,675 | $579 |
| Housing | $2,852 | $3,222 |
| Utilities | $17 | $1,134 |
| Other | $4,475 | $13,653 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.