Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Waterbury spent more per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar cities
Waterbury’s city government spent $661.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,751 per resident. Water and other utilities ($13.6 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Waterbury is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$5,719 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them
Waterbury’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,719 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 20 U.S. cities of 100,000–249,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,870, and the middle half spent $4,328–$5,655. Waterbury spent more than 75% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($16 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
U.S. cities of 100,000–249,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Waterbury itself left out).
About $5,751 per resident a year, or $15.76 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 62% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Waterbury runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with U.S. cities of 100,000–249,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 8% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Waterbury reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $5,719 · 2023: $5,625 · 2024: $5,751. Per resident it went from $5,719 to $5,751 (up 1%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 106,826 to 115,016.
full-time in March 2025, down from 3,479 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $5,449 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.61% of the home’s value, vs 1.81% across Connecticut.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Waterbury’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Waterbury’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Waterbury →
Who’s in charge in Waterbury
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Waterbury’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on waterburyct.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 36 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (115,016).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Waterbury School District
Waterbury’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Waterbury, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $20,824 per pupil, $11,309 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Connecticut districts overall: 58% local, 35% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Waterbury voted in 2024
Official results for Waterbury’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat54.8%18,328 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican44.0%14,723 votesOthers: 1.2% (387 votes).
Most votes in Waterbury: Kamala D Harris
New Haven County: Harris 55.0%, Trump 43.1% · Connecticut: Harris 56.4%, Trump 41.9%
of Waterbury’s 78,535 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Connecticut: 66%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Waterbury: Christopher S Murphy
New Haven County: Murphy 58.2%, Corey 40.0% · Connecticut: Murphy 58.6%, Corey 39.7%
U.S. House, 2024: 2 districts cover Waterbury, so your street decides which race was yours. All 2 districts’ results →
President, 2024: Waterbury, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury | 54.8% | 44.0% | 1.2% | 33,438 |
| New Haven County | 55.0% | 43.1% | 1.9% | 397,987 |
| Connecticut | 56.4% | 41.9% | 1.7% | 1,759,010 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Waterbury sends 7 representatives to the Connecticut House alone.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: waterburyct.org ↗
- 2Connecticut HouseWaterbury is split between 7 districts
- 3Connecticut SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Connecticut
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Waterbury compares with the towns next door
Waterbury spent $5,719 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $3,438 to $3,722. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Waterbury’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Waterbury’s government
How much does Waterbury spend per resident?
About $5,751 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $5,719 was more than 75% of 20 U.S. cities of 100,000–249,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Waterbury?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,449 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.61% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.81% across Connecticut. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see waterburyct.org.
Who runs Waterbury’s government?
See waterburyct.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Waterbury yet.
How did Waterbury vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 54.8%, Donald J Trump 44.0% (33,438 votes, official results). New Haven County: Harris 55.0%, Trump 43.1%. Connecticut: Harris 56.4%, Trump 41.9%.
How many people work for Waterbury?
3,230 full-time and 530 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $24.2M (about $290.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Waterbury in the state legislature?
Waterbury is split among 7 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Connecticut Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Waterbury’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →