Cheshire center
84 South Main St, Cheshire, CT 06410
Living in Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire sits in New Haven County between New Haven and Hartford, with the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail running the length of town on the route of a 19th-century canal and rail line. The town was set off from Wallingford and incorporated in 1780, and Roaring Brook Falls, a single-drop waterfall, is on its western edge.
Cheshire at a glance
- $550,000Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
- 31.36 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 25–30 minDrive to New Haven
- New HavenCounty · Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
Cheshire's zip code
Most of Cheshire uses zip code 06410.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire center | 06410 | The historic town center along South Main Street, with the Town Green, First Congregational Church and town hall. |
Cheshire covers about 33.4 square miles and borders Southington, Meriden, Wallingford, Hamden, Bethany, Prospect, Waterbury and Wolcott. It was incorporated in 1780.
Things to do in Cheshire, CT
Start with Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum and Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, then 2 more below.
Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum
A museum built around the personal collection of Gloria and Herbert Barker, with toys, dolls, lunch boxes, PEZ dispensers, board games and comic art assembled over more than four decades. There's a cartoon theater that runs in the summer.
1188 Highland Ave, Cheshire, CT
Plan a visitFarmington Canal Heritage Trail
A paved, multi-use rail trail that runs through Cheshire on the route of the old Farmington Canal and New Haven & Northampton Railroad, with a parking area and composting restrooms at Jarvis Street.
Jarvis St trailhead, Cheshire, CT
Plan a visitRoaring Brook Falls
A single-drop waterfall on the west side of town, reached by a short trail off Roaring Brook Road.
Roaring Brook Rd, Cheshire, CT
Cheshire Historical Society / Hitchcock-Phillips House
A historic house museum run by the Cheshire Historical Society, with programs on local history.
43 Church Dr, Cheshire, CT
Plan a visit
A little history
The area was settled around 1694 as part of Wallingford and was incorporated as the separate town of Cheshire in 1780.
Cheshire is home to Cheshire Correctional Institution, a state prison that opened in 1913 on West Main Street.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Cheshire
The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and the Quinnipiac Trail give Cheshire its main hiking and biking routes, along with Roaring Brook Falls on the town's western hills.
- Farmington Canal Heritage TrailPaved rail trail for walking and biking through town.More information
- Quinnipiac TrailBlue-blazed hiking trail along the ridgeline on Cheshire's western edge.
- Roaring Brook FallsShort trail to a single-drop waterfall.
Where to eat in Cheshire: restaurants and coffee
1 places in Cheshire to try, including coffee shop and bakery. No one paid to be listed.
Main Street Caffe
Coffee shop and bakery
A coffee and bakery shop on West Main Street open since 2005, with baked goods, coffee drinks and sandwiches.
209 W Main St, Cheshire, CT 06410 · mainstreetcaffe.com
Walkability and getting around Cheshire
The area around the town green and South Main Street has sidewalks and is walkable for a few blocks, but most of Cheshire is spread along Routes 10 and 68 and needs a car to get around.
Drive times
- New Haven, about 14 miles25–30 min
- Tweed New Haven Airport, about 14 miles25–30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Cheshire has no Metro-North or Hartford Line rail station in town; the nearest Metro-North New Haven Line stations are in Meriden and Waterbury. CTtransit provides limited local bus service.
Cheshire property taxes and home prices
Cheshire's 2026–27 mill rate is 31.36, which is $31.36 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 $2,195 a year in taxes at 31.36 mills.
What homes in Cheshire sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | $550,000202 sales | $305,00068 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Cheshire's mill rate for 2026–27
31.36mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Cheshire31.36 mills
- Currier Woods Tax District (where it applies)+21.19 mills
- Copper Hill Tax District (where it applies)+0.012 mills
- Motor vehicles31.36 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2028
How Cheshire's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 34.32 |
| 2023–24 | 35.09 |
| 2024–25 | 27.46 |
| 2025–26 | 29.74 |
| 2026–27 | 31.36 |
Cheshire's town rate went from 34.32 in 2022–23 to 31.36 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2028.
Look up a Cheshire property
- Property record cardsAssessed value, lot size and building details
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
- Assessor's officeQuestions about an assessment: (203) 271-6600
Buying a home in Cheshire
What we check on a Cheshire purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map and trail-adjacent lots.
First-time buyer programs in Cheshire
CHFA sets Cheshire'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
Ten Mile River and several smaller brooks cross Cheshire; check the FEMA flood map for any property near these waterways. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for CheshireCheck setbacks near the canal trail
The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail runs the length of town, and homes near it sit close to a public right-of-way. We confirm lot lines and any easements before you make an offer on a trail-adjacent 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 Cheshire?
Send us a Cheshire address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Cheshire: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Cheshire: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Trash and recyclingThe town offers curbside trash and recycling collection; residents can also use the privately operated Central CT Recycling and Transfer station.
Central CT Recycling and Transfer
22 Burton Dr, Cheshire, CT
Transfer station detailsTown offices and contacts
Cheshire Town Hall is at 84 South Main St, Cheshire, CT 06410. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30am–4pm. Main line: (203) 271-6600. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website(203) 271-6600
- Town ClerkVital records, land records and elections.(203) 271-6600
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.(203) 271-6600
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and collection.(203) 271-6600
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.(203) 271-6600
- Planning & ZoningLand use and zoning review.(203) 271-6600
- Parks & RecreationTown parks, fields and programs.
- Public WorksRoads, plowing and trash/recycling collection.
- Cheshire Public LibraryThe town's public library.
- Cheshire Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.(203) 250-2400
Cheshire, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Cheshire, CT?
Cheshire's 2026–27 mill rate is 31.36, which is $31.36 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 31.36 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Cheshire?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 31.36 mills that's about $10,976 a year, or about $915 a month, before any district tax. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
What is the median home price in Cheshire, CT?
In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Cheshire was $550,000 across 202 sales. The median condo sale was $305,000 across 68 sales.
When is Cheshire's next revaluation?
Cheshire's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2028, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2029.
What county is Cheshire in?
Cheshire is in New Haven County, in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region.
What is the zip code for Cheshire?
06410 covers most of the town.
Is there train service from Cheshire?
No station is in town; the nearest Metro-North New Haven Line stations are in Meriden and Waterbury.
How far is Cheshire from New Haven?
About 14 miles, roughly 25–30 minutes by car.
What are Cheshire town hall hours?
Monday–Friday 8:30am–4pm, at 84 South Main St.
Where does Cheshire trash go?
The town provides curbside pickup, and residents can also use the privately run Central CT Recycling and Transfer station on Burton Drive.
Towns near Cheshire
Neighbors of Cheshire 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 Cheshire sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Cheshire, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Hours & Directions - Cheshire, CT: cheshirect.gov
- Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum: barkermuseum.com
- Farmington Canal Heritage Trail - CT Trail Finder: cttrailfinder.com
- Main Street Caffe: mainstreetcaffe.com
- Central CT Recycling and Transfer - AJ Waste Systems: ajwastesystems.com
- Cheshire Public Schools: cheshire.k12.ct.us
- Cheshire Public Library: cheshirelibrary.org
- File:First Congregational Church, Cheshire CT.jpg - Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.