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Living in Durham, Connecticut

Durham is a former farming village on the Coginchaug River in central Connecticut, in Middlesex County. It sits along the Metacomet Ridge, a trap-rock ridgeline crossed by the Mattabesett Trail, and is best known statewide for the Durham Fair, held every autumn on the last full weekend in September.

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Durham at a glance

Durham's zip code

Durham is served by the 06422 zip code.

Durham villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Durham center06422Main Street, where the town hall, library and Durham Fairgrounds are located.

Durham covers about 23.6 square miles and borders Middlefield, Middletown, Haddam, Killingworth, Guilford and Wallingford. It was incorporated in 1708.

Things to do in Durham, CT

Start with Durham Fair and Mattabesett Trail on the Metacomet Ridge, then 1 more below.

  1. Durham Fair

    The largest volunteer-run agricultural fair in New England, held annually on the last full weekend in September at the Durham Fairgrounds. It features livestock shows, exhibits, food and rides.

    AnnualSeasonal

    Durham Fairgrounds, Durham, CT

    Plan a visit

  2. Mattabesett Trail on the Metacomet Ridge

    A roughly 50-mile trap-rock ridgeline trail that passes through Durham, with peaks including Fowler Mountain and Pistapaug Mountain. Sections in and around town are open for hiking year-round.

    FreeYear-round

    Metacomet Ridge, Durham, CT

  3. Coginchaug River

    The river that runs through the center of town toward Middlefield and Middletown, historically tied to Durham's farming and mill activity.

    Free

    Durham, CT

Around the calendar

  • September
    Durham FairA four-day agricultural fair on the last full weekend of September, run by volunteers.

A little history

Durham was incorporated in 1708 after European settlers purchased land from the Mattabesset (Wangunk) people around 1662.

The town was one of the first in the United States to have a public library, founded in 1733.

Moses Austin, who later helped found the first Anglo-American settlement in Texas along with his son Stephen F. Austin, was born in Durham in 1761.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Durham

Durham's outdoor recreation centers on the trap-rock ridges to the west and the Coginchaug River valley running through the center of town.

  • Mattabesett TrailA long-distance blue-blazed trail crossing the Metacomet Ridge through Durham.
  • Durham FairgroundsOpen fields used for the fair and, at other times, for walking and community events.More information

Where to eat in Durham: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Durham to try, including italian restaurant / pizzeria and chinese restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Durham

Durham center has sidewalks along part of Main Street connecting the library, town hall and a few businesses, but most of town is spread out farmland and woodland that requires a car.

Durham center

30 Town House Rd, Durham, CT 06422

Check any Durham address

Drive times

  • Middletown, about 9 miles15–20 min
  • Bradley International Airport, about 40 miles50–55 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

There is no fixed-route public bus service in Durham; the nearest train service is Amtrak and Shore Line East at the Middletown/New Haven area stations.

Durham property taxes and home prices

Durham's 2026–27 mill rate is 28.00, which is $28.00 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 $1,960 a year in taxes at 28.00 mills.

What homes in Durham sell for

12 months endingSingle-familyCondo
Sep 2024$445,00046 sales–
Sep 2025$490,00043 sales$200,00010 sales

October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.

Durham's mill rate for 2026–27

28.00mills, fiscal year 2026–27

  • Town of Durham28.00 mills
  • Motor vehicles28.00 mills
  • Next revaluationOctober 1, 2029

Durham property tax calculator

$
Assessed value (70%)
–
Taxes a year
–
About this much a month
–

Estimate only; the assessor's appraisal sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

Using our mortgage calculator or affordability calculator? Enter about 1.96% for property tax. That's 28.00 mills on a 70% assessment.

How Durham's mill rate has changed

Durham town mill rate by fiscal year
Fiscal yearTown rate
2022–2334.57
2023–2434.78
2024–2535.70
2025–2637.39
2026–2728.00

Durham's town rate went from 34.57 in 2022–23 to 28.00 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2029.

Look up a Durham property

Buying a home in Durham

What we check on a Durham purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map and private well & septic.

CHFA

First-time buyer programs in Durham

CHFA sets Durham's income and price limits for Middlesex County. We check them with you before you shop.

See CHFA's limits map
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Coginchaug River runs through the center of Durham, and low-lying land along it and its tributaries can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Durham
Private well & septic

Most homes are on well and septic

Outside the center of town, Durham properties are typically served by private wells and septic systems rather than town water and sewer. A well and septic inspection is worth budgeting for.

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.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Durham?

Send us a Durham address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Durham: utilities, trash and town offices

Who to call in Durham: Eversource for power.

Town offices and contacts

Durham Town Hall is at 30 Town House Rd, Durham, CT 06422. Main line: 860-349-3452. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.

Durham, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services

The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.

What is the mill rate in Durham, CT?

Durham's 2026–27 mill rate is 28.00, which is $28.00 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is 28.00 mills.

How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Durham?

Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 28.00 mills that's about $9,800 a year, or about $817 a month. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.

What is the median home price in Durham, CT?

In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Durham was $490,000 across 43 sales, compared with $445,000 the year before. The median condo sale was $200,000 across 10 sales.

When is Durham's next revaluation?

Durham'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 Durham, CT in?

Durham is in Middlesex County, in the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region.

What is Durham's zip code?

Durham uses zip code 06422.

When is the Durham Fair?

The Durham Fair runs on the last full weekend of September at the Durham Fairgrounds.

Is there curbside trash pickup in Durham?

No. Durham does not provide town-wide curbside collection; residents use a private hauler or the transfer station.

How far is Durham from Middletown?

Durham borders Middletown to the north and is about 9 miles, or 15–20 minutes, away.

Is there public transit in Durham?

No fixed-route bus service runs in Durham; the nearest train service is in the Middletown/New Haven area.

Towns near Durham

Neighbors of Durham in Middlesex County and nearby. All Middlesex County towns.

Sources