The City of Waterbury, Connecticut — the state’s fourth-largest city with roughly 115,000 residents — is experiencing a cultural and population shift that’s reshaping its identity.

Over the past decade, an influx of New Yorkers has brought new energy, ideas, and challenges to the Brass City. The transformation is visible in everything from the neon lights illuminating downtown corners to the blue-and-white sirens that echo through the streets on weekend nights. The city’s pace feels faster now — charged with a rhythm that mirrors the Big Apple just 90 miles away.

For some, this “New York energy” represents opportunity. Local business owners see potential growth, new customers, and the chance for Waterbury to evolve into a mini-metropolitan hub. But for longtime residents who remember a slower, tighter-knit version of the city, the changes can feel bittersweet — even unsettling.

Whether celebrated or criticized, one thing is clear: change is coming to the Brass City.

In our next Waterbury Times Investigative Report, we’ll explore the deep ties that have connected Waterbury and New York City for more than a century — and examine what the future might hold for Connecticut’s very own “Little Apple.”