Colchester center
127 Norwich Ave, Colchester, CT 06415
Living in Colchester, Connecticut
Colchester is a town in New London County, in southeastern Connecticut, set between the Salmon River and Jeremy River watersheds. It was settled in 1698 on land granted by Mohegan Sachem Uncas and incorporated in 1699, taking its name from Colchester, England. The town center sits along Route 2 and Route 66, with Day Pond State Park and Salmon River State Forest covering large wooded sections to the north and west.
Colchester at a glance
- $412,950Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
- 29.92 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 35-45 minDrive to Hartford
- New LondonCounty · Southeastern Connecticut
Colchester's villages and zip codes
Colchester uses ZIP code 06415 for the town center and most addresses.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester center | 06415 | Along Norwich Avenue and Route 2/66, where Town Hall, Cragin Memorial Library and downtown businesses are located. |
| Westchester | 06415 | A rural section in the western part of town. |
Colchester covers about 49.1 square miles and borders Lebanon, Norwich, Haddam and Lyme. It was incorporated in 1699.
Things to do in Colchester, CT
Start with Day Pond State Park and Salmon River State Forest, then 2 more below.
Day Pond State Park
A state park with a small pond for swimming and fishing, picnic areas, and hiking trails through Salmon River State Forest. Open year-round for day use.
Day Pond Rd, Colchester, CT
Plan a visitSalmon River State Forest
A large state forest along the Salmon and Jeremy Rivers with hiking, fishing, and hunting. The Salmon River is a designated trout stream and a popular fly-fishing spot.
Off Route 16/149, Colchester, CT
Plan a visitComstock Covered Bridge
A 19th-century wooden covered bridge over the Salmon River at the Colchester/East Hampton line, now open only to pedestrians in a small streamside park.
Comstock Bridge Rd, Colchester/East Hampton, CT
Cragin Memorial Library
The town's public library, with regular programs for children and adults.
8 Linwood Ave, Colchester, CT 06415
Plan a visit
A little history
Colchester was founded in 1698 by Jeremy Adams on 340 acres granted by Mohegan Sachem Uncas, initially called "Jeremiah's Farme," and was officially incorporated as Colchester in 1699, named after Colchester, England.
In 2010, Colchester became the first town in Connecticut, and the 36th in the country, to be certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Colchester
The Salmon River and Jeremy River run through Colchester, and the town's largest recreation land, Day Pond State Park and Salmon River State Forest, sits along them.
- Day Pond State ParkSwimming pond, picnic areas, and hiking trails.More information
- Salmon River State ForestHiking, fishing, and hunting land along the Salmon and Jeremy Rivers.More information
- Comstock Covered BridgeHistoric pedestrian covered bridge over the Salmon River.
Walkability and getting around Colchester
The town center along Norwich Avenue has sidewalks connecting Town Hall, the library, and a handful of downtown businesses, but most of Colchester, including its lake and rural neighborhoods, requires a car.
Westchester
Drive times
- Hartford, about 25 miles35-45 min
- Bradley International Airport, about 40 miles50-60 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Colchester has no fixed-route public bus service or train station; the nearest Hartford Line and Shore Line East service is in the Hartford and New London areas, roughly 35-45 minutes away by car.
Colchester property taxes and home prices
Colchester's 2026–27 mill rate is 29.92, which is $29.92 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 $2,094 a year in taxes at 29.92 mills.
What homes in Colchester sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $411,500154 sales | $320,00010 sales |
| Sep 2025 | $412,950154 sales | $320,16218 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Colchester's mill rate for 2026–27
29.92mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Colchester29.92 mills
- Motor vehicles29.92 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2026
How Colchester's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | – |
| 2023–24 | 27.22 |
| 2024–25 | 28.67 |
| 2025–26 | 29.92 |
| 2026–27 | 29.92 |
Colchester's town rate went from 27.22 in 2023–24 to 29.92 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2026.
Look up a Colchester 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 Colchester
What we check on a Colchester purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map, well & septic and river flood zone.
First-time buyer programs in Colchester
CHFA sets Colchester's income and price limits for New London County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
The Salmon River, Jeremy River, and Dickinson Creek run through Colchester, putting low-lying parcels near these waterways in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for ColchesterMost of town relies on private wells and septic
Outside the town center, Colchester properties typically use private wells and septic systems rather than town water and sewer. Buyers should budget for well and septic inspections and confirm system age and capacity before making an offer.
Check FEMA flood maps near the Salmon and Jeremy Rivers
Parcels near the Salmon River, Jeremy River, or Dickinson Creek can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near these waterways.
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 Colchester?
Send us a Colchester address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Colchester: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Colchester: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasNo natural gas service in most of town
- WaterMostly private wells, with some public water in the town center
- Sewer or septicColchester's town center has sewer service; most of the town relies on septic systems.
- Trash and recyclingColchester does not provide curbside trash collection; residents haul their own trash and recycling to the town transfer station or contract with a private hauler.
Colchester Transfer Station
89 Old Amston Rd, Colchester, CT 06415 Tuesday and Saturday, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM (closed if a holiday falls on those days)
Transfer station detailsTown offices and contacts
Colchester Town Hall is at 127 Norwich Ave, Colchester, CT 06415. Main line: 860-537-7200. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website860-537-7200
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.860-537-7278
- Planning & ZoningZoning, land use, and planning applications.
- Public WorksRoads, town facilities, and infrastructure.
- Cragin Memorial LibraryThe town's public library.
- Colchester Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Colchester, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Colchester, CT?
Colchester's 2026–27 mill rate is 29.92, which is $29.92 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is 29.92 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Colchester?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 29.92 mills that's about $10,472 a year, or about $873 a month. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
What is the median home price in Colchester, CT?
In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Colchester was $412,950 across 154 sales, compared with $411,500 the year before. The median condo sale was $320,162 across 18 sales.
When is Colchester's next revaluation?
Colchester's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2026, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2027.
What county is Colchester, CT in?
Colchester is in New London County, within the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region.
What ZIP code does Colchester use?
Colchester uses ZIP code 06415 for the town center and most of the town.
Is there curbside trash pickup in Colchester?
No. Colchester does not provide curbside collection; residents use the town transfer station at 89 Old Amston Rd or a private hauler.
Is there a train station in Colchester?
No. Colchester has no train station or fixed-route bus service.
Which towns border Colchester?
Colchester's historical boundaries run to Lebanon and Norwich on the east/northeast, Haddam and Middletown on the west, and Lyme on the south.
What are the Colchester Transfer Station hours?
The transfer station at 89 Old Amston Rd is open Tuesday and Saturday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Towns near Colchester
Neighbors of Colchester in New London County and nearby. All New London 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 Colchester sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Colchester, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Colchester official website: colchesterct.gov
- Colchester Transfer Station: colchesterct.gov
- Colchester Building Department: colchesterct.gov
- Day Pond State Park - CT DEEP: portal.ct.gov
- Salmon River State Forest - CT DEEP: portal.ct.gov
- Comstock Covered Bridge - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Checked September 25, 2026.