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First Congregational Church in Lyme, Connecticut

Living in Lyme, Connecticut

Lyme sits on the eastern side of the Connecticut River in New London County, formally recognized as a town on February 13, 1667, and named after Lyme Regis, England. It once included what are now Old Lyme and East Lyme before they separated in 1823 and 1855. The town gives its name to Lyme disease, first identified in the region.

Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lyme at a glance

Lyme's villages and zip codes

Lyme is split between the 06371 (Hamburg/Lyme) and 06439 (Hadlyme) zip codes.

Lyme villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Hamburg06371The town center area, near Town Hall on Hamburg Road.
Hadlyme06439A village in the northwestern part of town near the Connecticut River and the Hadlyme Ferry crossing.

Lyme covers about 31.9 square miles and borders Old Lyme, East Lyme, Salem, Colchester and East Haddam. It was incorporated in 1667.

Things to do in Lyme, CT

Start with Gillette Castle State Park and Hadlyme Ferry, then 2 more below.

  1. Gillette Castle State Park

    A hilltop fieldstone castle built by actor William Gillette, overlooking the Connecticut River, with trails and picnic areas; the castle grounds extend partly into Lyme.

    Free groundsSeasonal castle tours

    67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT (grounds extend into Lyme)

  2. Hadlyme Ferry

    One of Connecticut's two remaining ferries across the Connecticut River, connecting Hadlyme to Chester, running seasonally.

    Seasonal

    Ferry Rd, Hadlyme, CT

  3. Selden Neck State Park

    An island state park accessible only by boat, with primitive camping and river access on the Connecticut River.

    Boat access only

    Lyme, CT

  4. Becket Hill State Park Reserve

    An undeveloped state park reserve in Lyme with trails through forested terrain.

    FreeUndeveloped

    Lyme, CT

More worth a visit

  • Hadlyme Ferry Historic DistrictA National Register historic district around the ferry landing.
  • Hamburg Bridge Historic DistrictA historic district centered on the Hamburg Cove area bridge.

A little history

Lyme was formally recognized as a town on February 13, 1667, and named after Lyme Regis on the southwest coast of England.

The town's original territory was much larger; Old Lyme separated in 1823 and East Lyme in 1855.

Lyme disease was first identified in and named for the Lyme area of southeastern Connecticut.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Lyme

Lyme is largely rural and wooded, with the Connecticut River, its coves, and the Eightmile River giving it some of the state's most protected river and forest land.

  • Eightmile RiverA federally designated Wild and Scenic River running through Lyme, with protected watershed land along its banks.
  • Rogers LakeA lake on the Lyme/Old Lyme line used for boating and fishing.
  • Nehantic State ForestState forest land extending partly into Lyme with multi-use trails.
  • Hamburg CoveA scenic cove off the Connecticut River, popular with boaters.

Walkability and getting around Lyme

Lyme has no real village center to walk between shops and homes; it's a rural town of coves, forest and winding roads, and a car is necessary to get around.

Hamburg

480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371

Check any Lyme address

Drive times

  • New London, about 17 miles25-30 min
  • Bradley International Airport, about 50 miles60 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

No fixed-route public transit was confirmed within Lyme. The Hadlyme Ferry provides seasonal vehicle and passenger crossing of the Connecticut River to Chester; the nearest Amtrak/Shore Line East service is in New London or Old Saybrook.

Lyme property taxes and home prices

Lyme's 2026–27 mill rate is 14.50, which is $14.50 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 $1,015 a year in taxes at 14.50 mills.

What homes in Lyme sell for

12 months endingSingle-familyCondo
Sep 2025$649,00023 sales–

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

Lyme's mill rate for 2026–27

14.50mills, fiscal year 2026–27

  • Town of Lyme14.50 mills
  • Rogers Lake West Shores Inc (where it applies)+0.90 mills
  • Motor vehicles14.50 mills
  • Next revaluationOctober 1, 2028

Lyme property tax calculator

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

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

Using our mortgage calculator or affordability calculator? Enter about 1.02% for property tax. That's 14.50 mills on a 70% assessment.

How Lyme's mill rate has changed

Lyme town mill rate by fiscal year
Fiscal yearTown rate
2022–2319.95
2023–2419.50
2024–2514.50
2025–2614.50
2026–2714.50

Lyme's town rate went from 19.95 in 2022–23 to 14.50 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2028.

Look up a Lyme property

Buying a home in Lyme

What we check on a Lyme purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map, well & septic and river & cove flood zones.

CHFA

First-time buyer programs in Lyme

CHFA sets Lyme's income and price limits for New London County. We check them with you before you shop.

See CHFA's limits map
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Lyme's coves and shoreline along the Connecticut River (including Hamburg, Lord, Selden and Whalebone Coves) put waterfront and low-lying parcels in FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer near the river. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Lyme
Well & septic

Plan for private well and septic

Lyme has no significant public water or sewer infrastructure; nearly all properties rely on a private well and septic system. Budget for a well test and septic inspection during due diligence.

River & cove flood zones

Check flood zones near the river and coves

Waterfront parcels along the Connecticut River and its coves can fall in FEMA flood zones, which affects insurance cost and availability. Confirm flood zone status early if you're looking near the water.

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 Lyme?

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

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Lyme: utilities, trash and town offices

Who to call in Lyme: Eversource for power.

Lyme Transfer Station

Town offices and contacts

Lyme Town Hall is at 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.. Main line: 860-434-7733. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.

Lyme, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services

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

What is the mill rate in Lyme, CT?

Lyme's 2026–27 mill rate is 14.50, which is $14.50 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 14.50 mills.

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

Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 14.50 mills that's about $5,075 a year, or about $423 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 Lyme, CT?

In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Lyme was $649,000 across 23 sales.

When is Lyme's next revaluation?

Lyme'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 Lyme, CT in?

Lyme is in New London County, part of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region.

What are Lyme's zip codes?

Lyme uses 06371 (Hamburg/town center) and 06439 (Hadlyme).

Is there curbside trash pickup in Lyme?

No; residents use the Lyme Transfer Station for trash and recycling.

Is there a ferry in Lyme?

Yes, the seasonal Hadlyme Ferry crosses the Connecticut River between Hadlyme and Chester.

What school district serves Lyme?

Lyme is part of Region 18, a regional school district shared with Old Lyme.

How do I reach Lyme's town hall?

Town Hall is at 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371, phone 860-434-7733, open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Towns near Lyme

Neighbors of Lyme in New London County and nearby. All New London County towns.

Sources