Branford Center
1019 Main St, Branford, CT 06405
Living in Branford, Connecticut
Branford is a shoreline town on Long Island Sound just east of New Haven, with 20 miles of coastline and access to the Thimble Islands, a cluster of small granite islands offshore. The town center sits around a historic green, while Stony Creek, Short Beach, Pine Orchard and Indian Neck are separate waterfront villages. Stony Creek granite quarried here was used in the Brooklyn Bridge and the base of the Statue of Liberty.
Branford at a glance
- 22.16 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 15–20 minDrive to New Haven
- New HavenCounty · South Central Connecticut
Branford's villages and zip codes
Branford uses one primary zip code, 06405, for the center and all shoreline villages.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Branford Center | 06405 | The town green and Main Street, with Town Hall, churches and shops. |
| Stony Creek | 06405 | A waterfront village on the eastern side of town, departure point for Thimble Islands boat tours and near the old granite quarries. |
| Short Beach | 06405 | A shoreline neighborhood south of town center, home to the Shore Line Trolley Museum. |
| Pine Orchard | 06405 | A residential shoreline area on a peninsula south of the center, near the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club. |
| Indian Neck | 06405 | A peninsula neighborhood with harbor access and town parks. |
Branford covers about 28.0 square miles and borders East Haven, North Branford and Guilford. It was incorporated in 1685.
Things to do in Branford, CT
Start with Thimble Islands cruises and Shore Line Trolley Museum, then 3 more below.
Thimble Islands cruises
Boat tours depart from Stony Creek to tour the roughly 100 small granite islands offshore, some inhabited by private homes. Trips typically run seasonally and cover local island history.
Stony Creek
Shore Line Trolley Museum
A working trolley museum shared with East Haven, with vintage streetcars and rides along a stretch of restored track. It occupies the site of a former interurban trolley line.
17 River St, East Haven/Branford line
Harrison House Museum
An early 18th-century house (built 1724) maintained with period furnishings, operated by the Branford Historical Society.
124 Main St, Branford
James Blackstone Memorial Library
The town's main library, an architecturally notable Beaux-Arts building on the green.
758 Main St, Branford
Branford Festival
An annual Father's Day weekend festival on the Branford Green with food, crafts, music and a 5-mile road race.
Branford Green
More worth a visit
- Shoreline Greenway TrailA multi-town coastal trail network with sections through Branford.
- Stony Creek granite quarry sitesHistoric quarry areas that once supplied stone for the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty pedestal.
Around the calendar
- JuneBranford FestivalA Father's Day weekend festival on the town green with a road race, food and live music.
- AugustShort Beach DaysA three-day summer festival in the Short Beach neighborhood.
A little history
Branford was originally called Totoket and was purchased from the Mattabesech people before English settlement in 1644; it was incorporated as a town in 1685.
The arrival of the railroad in 1852 spurred industry including the Branford Lock Works and Atlantic Wire Company, and by the mid-19th century Branford was a shoreline resort with roughly 20 hotels.
Stony Creek granite quarried in Branford was used in the Brooklyn Bridge, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and other landmark structures.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Branford
Branford's 20 miles of coastline and inland reservoirs give it a mix of saltwater and freshwater recreation.
- Thimble IslandsAn archipelago of small granite islands off Stony Creek, seen by boat tour.
- Lake SaltonstallA reservoir on the Branford/East Haven line with hiking trails around its shoreline.
- Bay Point ParkA shoreline park in the Hotchkiss Grove area.
- Foote ParkA town park with water access.
- Branford Supply PondsA set of former reservoir ponds with walking trails.
Where to eat in Branford: restaurants and coffee
3 places in Branford to try, including american restaurant and tavern/restaurant. No one paid to be listed.
Branford Townhouse Restaurant
American restaurant
A Main Street restaurant serving breakfast, seafood and full-bar dinner service.
18 N Main St, Branford, CT · branfordtownhouserestaurant.com
Lockworks Tavern
Tavern/restaurant
A restaurant on Main Street in the former Lockworks Square building.
1212 Main St, Branford, CT · lockworkstavern.com
G-Zen
Vegan restaurant
A vegan fine-dining restaurant on East Main Street.
2 E Main St, Branford, CT
Walkability and getting around Branford
The Branford Center green and Main Street are walkable, with shops, the library and restaurants close together. The shoreline villages of Stony Creek, Short Beach and Pine Orchard are each walkable within themselves, but a car is needed to get between villages or to Route 1 shopping areas.
Stony Creek
Short Beach
Pine Orchard
Drive times
- New Haven, about 6 miles15–20 min
- Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, about 3 miles10 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Shore Line East commuter rail serves Branford station on the New London–New Haven line, connecting to New Haven and onward Metro-North service. CT Transit also runs local bus routes through town.
Branford property taxes and home prices
Branford's 2026–27 mill rate is 22.16, which is $22.16 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $1,551 a year in taxes at 22.16 mills.
What homes in Branford sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $582,500132 sales | $279,950154 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Branford's mill rate for 2026–27
22.16mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Branford22.16 mills
- Sylvan Point Tax District (where it applies)+14.30 mills
- Harbour Village Tax District (where it applies)+13.96 mills
- Greens Tax District (Condo Assoc.) (where it applies)+8.538 mills
- Turtle Bay Tax District (where it applies)+7.119 mills
- Pine Orchard Association (The) (where it applies)+3.25 mills
- Hotchkiss Grove Shore District (where it applies)+1.36 mills
- Motor vehicles22.16 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2029
How Branford's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 29.45 |
| 2023–24 | 29.89 |
| 2024–25 | 30.48 |
| 2025–26 | 21.40 |
| 2026–27 | 22.16 |
Branford's town rate went from 29.45 in 2022–23 to 22.16 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2029.
Look up a Branford property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
- Assessor's officeQuestions about an assessment: 203-488-2039
Buying a home in Branford
What we check on a Branford purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map and coastal flood zones.
First-time buyer programs in Branford
CHFA sets Branford's income and price limits for New Haven County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
Branford's roughly 20 miles of Long Island Sound coastline, including Stony Creek, Short Beach, Pine Orchard and Indian Neck, places shoreline parcels in FEMA flood zones. The Branford River and its harbor also carry inland flood risk near the town center. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for BranfordFlood insurance on the shoreline
Waterfront villages including Stony Creek, Short Beach, Pine Orchard and Indian Neck sit in FEMA-mapped flood zones. Ask about flood zone designation and flood insurance cost before making an offer on a shoreline property.
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 Branford?
Send us a Branford address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Branford: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Branford: United Illuminating for power.
- ElectricUnited Illuminating
- Natural gasSouthern Connecticut Gas
- WaterSouth Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority in most of town
- Sewer or septicPublic sewer serves the town center and shoreline villages; some outlying areas use septic.
- Trash and recyclingThe town provides curbside trash and recycling collection; check the town's published schedule for your street.
Town offices and contacts
Branford Town Hall is at 1019 Main St, Branford, CT 06405. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Main line: 203-488-8394. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website203-488-8394
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records and licensing203-315-0678
- AssessorProperty values and assessments203-488-2039
- Tax CollectorProperty tax bills and payments203-315-0672
- Building DepartmentPermits and inspections
- Planning and ZoningLand use applications and zoning regulations
- Parks and RecreationTown parks, beaches and recreation programs
- Public WorksRoads, trash and recycling
- James Blackstone Memorial LibraryBranford's public library
- Branford Public SchoolsBranford's school district
Branford, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Branford, CT?
Branford's 2026–27 mill rate is 22.16, which is $22.16 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. The motor vehicle rate is 22.16 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Branford?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 22.16 mills that's about $7,756 a year, or about $646 a month, before any district tax. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
When is Branford's next revaluation?
Branford's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2029, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2030.
What county is Branford in?
Branford is in New Haven County, part of the South Central Connecticut planning region.
What zip code does Branford use?
Branford uses 06405 for the town center and its shoreline villages.
How do I get to New Haven from Branford?
New Haven is about 6 miles west, roughly 15–20 minutes by car, or a short ride on Shore Line East commuter rail.
Is there train service in Branford?
Yes. Shore Line East serves the Branford station on the New London–New Haven line, connecting to Metro-North in New Haven.
What is Stony Creek known for?
Stony Creek is a waterfront village and the departure point for Thimble Islands boat tours; it was also a historic granite quarrying center.
Towns near Branford
Neighbors of Branford in New Haven County and nearby. All New Haven 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 Branford sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Branford, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Branford, CT - official website: branford-ct.gov
- Assessor's Office | Branford, CT: branford-ct.gov
- Branford Townhouse Restaurant: branfordtownhouserestaurant.com
- Lockworks Tavern: lockworkstavern.com
- File:Branford Town Green, Connecticut.jpg - Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.