Bethel center
1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801
Living in Bethel, Connecticut
Bethel is a small town in Fairfield County just east of Danbury, built around a compact downtown on Greenwood Avenue. It was set off from Danbury and incorporated in 1855, and Interstate 84 and the Metro-North Danbury Branch both run through town.
Bethel at a glance
- $550,000Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
- 31.71 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 10–15 minDrive to Danbury
- FairfieldCounty · Western Connecticut Planning Region
Bethel's zip code
Bethel is served by the 06801 zip code.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Bethel center | 06801 | The Greenwood Avenue commercial district, with the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center at 1 School Street. |
Bethel covers about 16.9 square miles and borders Danbury, Redding, Brookfield and Newtown. It was incorporated in 1855.
Things to do in Bethel, CT
Start with Greenwood Avenue Historic District and Bethel Public Library, then 3 more below.
Greenwood Avenue Historic District
The historic commercial center of Bethel, with mid-19th to early-20th-century commercial and residential buildings now holding local shops and restaurants. It's a walkable stretch anchored by the Bethel Public Library.
Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, CT
Bethel Public Library
The town's public library sits in the historic Seth Seelye House on Greenwood Avenue, in the middle of the downtown shopping district.
189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, CT 06801
Byrd's Books
An independent bookstore on Greenwood Avenue carrying new releases and stocking special orders, part of the downtown retail strip.
Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, CT
C.P. Huntington State Park
A roughly 1,000-acre state park spanning Bethel, Redding and Newtown, with several ponds, a 15-acre lake and about 10 miles of trails, a short drive from downtown Bethel.
Sunset Hill Road area, Bethel/Redding/Newtown, CT
Plan a visitBlue Jay Orchards
A working orchard and farm stand where visitors can pick apples and pumpkins in season and buy cider doughnuts.
Bethel, CT
More worth a visit
- Overlook ParkA small park behind the Greenwood Avenue shops and the Bethel Food Market.
A little history
Bethel was first settled around 1700 as part of Danbury and was incorporated as a separate town in 1855; its name comes from the Hebrew for 'house of God.'
In 1934, entrepreneur Rudolph Kunett opened the nation's first vodka distillery in Bethel after acquiring recipe and brand rights from the Smirnoff family.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Bethel
Most of Bethel's public open space is shared with its neighbors, from a large state park on the town line to smaller in-town parks near the downtown shops.
- C.P. Huntington State ParkAbout 1,000 acres of ponds, a lake and roughly 10 miles of trails spanning Bethel, Redding and Newtown.More information
- Overlook ParkA small park in downtown Bethel behind the Greenwood Avenue storefronts.
Where to eat in Bethel: restaurants and coffee
4 places in Bethel to try, including bakery and coffee shop. No one paid to be listed.
Varano Bakery
Bakery
A family-run bakery on Greenwood Avenue that has operated in Bethel for close to two decades, after the family ran earlier bakeries in Massachusetts and New York.
198 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, CT 06801
Café Duo
Coffee shop
A Greenwood Avenue coffee shop serving coffee sourced from Guatemala and Colombia along with baked goods.
155 Greenwood Ave, Ste C-102, Bethel, CT 06801
Daily Fare Bakery & Cafe
Bakery and cafe
A craft bakery and cafe inside the Bethel train station serving breakfast, lunch, Saturday brunch and locally roasted coffee.
Bethel train station, Bethel, CT · dailyfare.net
Better In Bethel
American restaurant
A restaurant on Greenwood Avenue in downtown Bethel.
186 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, CT 06801
Walkability and getting around Bethel
Downtown Bethel around Greenwood Avenue is walkable, with the library, shops, restaurants and the train station within a few blocks of each other. Outside that center, most of the town is built for driving.
Drive times
- Danbury, about 5 miles10–15 min
- Danbury Municipal Airport, about 6 miles15 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Bethel station on the Metro-North Danbury Branch connects to the New Haven Line at South Norwalk; local bus service in the area is provided by HART (Housatonic Area Regional Transit).
Bethel property taxes and home prices
Bethel's 2026–27 mill rate is 31.71, which is $31.71 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $2,220 a year in taxes at 31.71 mills.
What homes in Bethel sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $525,000135 sales | $420,75048 sales |
| Sep 2025 | $550,000149 sales | $483,50070 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Bethel's mill rate for 2026–27
31.71mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Bethel31.71 mills
- Motor vehicles31.71 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2027
How Bethel's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 34.59 |
| 2023–24 | 28.43 |
| 2024–25 | 29.17 |
| 2025–26 | 30.41 |
| 2026–27 | 31.71 |
Bethel's town rate went from 34.59 in 2022–23 to 31.71 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2027.
Look up a Bethel property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
- Assessor's officeQuestions about an assessment
Buying a home in Bethel
What we check on a Bethel purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map and commuter rail town.
First-time buyer programs in Bethel
CHFA sets Bethel's income and price limits for Fairfield County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
Parts of Bethel along its brooks and near Huntington State Park's ponds and lake fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for BethelBethel station on the Danbury Branch
Bethel has its own Metro-North stop, which connects to the New Haven Line at South Norwalk. If commuting by rail matters, check walking distance from a specific address to the station.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Bethel?
Send us a Bethel address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Bethel: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Bethel: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Sewer or septicPublic sewer serves the downtown and denser parts of Bethel; outlying areas rely on septic systems.
- Trash and recyclingThe town's Public Works Department oversees trash and recycling; some residents use curbside collection while others use the town transfer station.
Town offices and contacts
Bethel Town Hall is at 1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801. Hours: Monday–Wednesday 8:00am–4:30pm, Thursday 8:00am–6:00pm, Friday 8:00am–12:00pm. Main line: 203-794-8501. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website203-794-8501
- Town ClerkVital records, land records, licenses and permits
- AssessorProperty values and assessments
- Tax CollectorTax billing and collection
- Building DepartmentPermits and inspections
- Planning & ZoningLand use and development review
- Parks & RecreationCommunity programs and facilities
- Public WorksRoads, engineering and the transfer station
- Bethel Public LibraryPublic library on Greenwood Avenue
- Bethel Public SchoolsSchool district website
Bethel, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Bethel, CT?
Bethel's 2026–27 mill rate is 31.71, which is $31.71 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is 31.71 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Bethel?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 31.71 mills that's about $11,098 a year, or about $925 a month. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
What is the median home price in Bethel, CT?
In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Bethel was $550,000 across 149 sales, compared with $525,000 the year before. The median condo sale was $483,500 across 70 sales.
When is Bethel's next revaluation?
Bethel's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2027, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2028.
What county is Bethel, CT in?
Bethel is in Fairfield County, within the Western Connecticut Planning Region.
What is Bethel's zip code?
Bethel's zip code is 06801.
Is there a train station in Bethel?
Yes. Bethel station is on the Metro-North Danbury Branch, which connects to the New Haven Line at South Norwalk.
How far is Bethel from Danbury?
Bethel borders Danbury directly to the west; downtown Bethel is about 5 miles from downtown Danbury.
Where is Bethel's town hall?
Town hall is the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center at 1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801.
Towns near Bethel
Neighbors of Bethel in Fairfield County and nearby. All Fairfield County towns.
Sources
- Mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "Mill Rates for FY 2014–2027," data.ct.gov. Revaluation year: OPM, Revaluation Schedule 2023–2037.
- Home sales: "Real Estate Sales 2001–2024 GL," data.ct.gov. Medians use Bethel sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Bethel, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Bethel official website: bethel-ct.gov
- Greenwood Avenue Historic District - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Daily Fare Bakery & Cafe: dailyfare.net
- Bethel Public Schools: bethel.k12.ct.us
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Jerry Dougherty, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.