Living in Middletown, Connecticut

Middletown is a city on the west bank of the Connecticut River in Middlesex County, about 16 miles south of Hartford. Settled as Mattabeseck in 1651 and renamed Middletown two years later for its position halfway between Hartford and Saybrook, it grew into a major 18th-century river port and is now home to Wesleyan University.

Downtown Middletown Westfield Maromas

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Middletown at a glance

$364,500Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
33.30 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
25 minDrive to Hartford
MiddlesexCounty · Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Middletown's villages and zip codes

Middletown uses ZIP codes 06457 and 06459.

Middletown villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Downtown Middletown	06457	Main Street between the Arrigoni Bridge and Wesleyan University.
Westfield	06457	A neighborhood in the western part of the city.
Maromas	06457	A largely wooded section in the southeastern part of the city, along the Connecticut River.

Middletown covers about 42.36 square miles and borders Cromwell, Berlin, Meriden, Middlefield, Durham, Haddam, East Hampton and Portland. It was incorporated in 1651.

Things to do in Middletown, CT

Start with Wesleyan University and Wadsworth Falls State Park, then 3 more below.

Wesleyan University
A private university whose campus anchors downtown Middletown, with a public art museum set in an 1830s mansion and regular concerts, lectures and exhibits open to the community.
Free galleriesYear-round
Main Street and High Street area
Plan a visit
Wadsworth Falls State Park
A state park where the Coginchaug River drops about 30 feet over a shelf of basalt at Wadsworth Big Falls. The park has hiking trails and a designated swimming area in warmer months.
FreeHikingSeasonal swimming
Route 157, Middletown/Middlefield line
Plan a visit
Harbor Park
A riverfront park on the Connecticut River near downtown, used for walking and river views, with the Arrigoni Bridge visible overhead.
FreeRiverfront
Harbor Drive
Kidcity Children's Museum
A hands-on children's museum in downtown Middletown with exhibits and programs for young children.
Family
119 Washington Street
Plan a visit
Oddfellows Playhouse
A youth theater in Middletown offering performances and arts programs for children and teens.
Arts
Downtown Middletown
Plan a visit

More worth a visit

Green Street Arts CenterA community arts center affiliated with Wesleyan University, founded in 2000.
The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural CenterA small downtown venue for music and community events.

A little history

Settled by English colonists in 1650 as Mattabeseck, named for a Wangunk village, and renamed Middletown in 1653 for its location roughly halfway between Hartford and Saybrook.

The city was a major maritime port by the 18th century and later became a center of 19th-century manufacturing, including firearms production.

Wesleyan University was established in Middletown in 1831.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Middletown

Middletown's outdoor recreation runs from the Connecticut River waterfront downtown to the Metacomet Ridge and Wadsworth Falls to the west.

Wadsworth Falls State ParkWaterfalls, hiking trails and seasonal swimming on the Middletown/Middlefield line.More information
Harbor ParkA 2.6-acre riverfront park on the Connecticut River near downtown.
Mattabesett TrailA roughly 50-mile blue-blazed trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge, including Higby Mountain on Middletown's western border.
Guida Farm Conservation AreaA roughly 100-acre conservation property with walking trails.

Where to eat in Middletown: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Middletown to try, including bar and american restaurant and diner. No one paid to be listed.

Eli Cannon's Tap Room
Bar and American restaurant
A beer bar on Main Street open since 1994, known for a large rotating tap list.
695 Main Street, Middletown, CT
O'Rourke's Diner
Diner
A longtime Main Street diner that residents helped rebuild through fundraising after a 2006 fire.
728 Main Street, Middletown, CT
R.J. Julia at Wesleyan
Independent bookstore
An independent bookstore on Main Street tied to Wesleyan University.
Main Street, Middletown, CT

Walkability and getting around Middletown

Downtown Middletown, around Main Street and the Wesleyan campus, is walkable with shops, restaurants and a river park within a few blocks. Neighborhoods farther from downtown, including Westfield and Maromas, are more spread out and typically require a car.

Downtown Middletown

245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457

Drive times

Hartford, about 16 miles25 min
Bradley International Airport, about 29 miles34 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Middletown is served by local and regional bus routes, including Connecticut Transit and River Valley Transit, with express connections toward Hartford and New Haven. There is no train station in Middletown itself; the nearest Shore Line East and Amtrak connections are in Old Saybrook and New Haven.

Middletown property taxes and home prices

Middletown's 2026–27 mill rate is 33.30, which is $33.30 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 $2,331 a year in taxes at 33.30 mills.

What homes in Middletown sell for

12 months ending	Single-family	Condo
Sep 2024	$340,000307 sales	$201,000160 sales
Sep 2025	$364,500300 sales	$219,000183 sales

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

Middletown's mill rate for 2026–27

33.30mills, fiscal year 2026–27

Town of Middletown33.30 mills
City Fire (where it applies)+7.50 mills
South Fire District - Middletown (where it applies)+5.311 mills
Middletown Downtown Business District SSD (where it applies)+2.35 mills
Westfield Fire District (where it applies)+2.084 mills
Motor vehicles32.46 mills
Next revaluationOctober 1, 2027

How Middletown's mill rate has changed

Middletown town mill rate by fiscal year
Fiscal year	Town rate
2022–23	35.70
2023–24	28.30
2024–25	30.10
2025–26	31.70
2026–27	33.30

Middletown's town rate went from 35.70 in 2022–23 to 33.30 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2027.

Look up a Middletown property

FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
Assessor's officeQuestions about an assessment: 860-638-4930

Buying a home in Middletown

What we check on a Middletown purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map, river flooding and city sanitation district.

CHFA

First-time buyer programs in Middletown

CHFA sets Middletown'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

Middletown sits on the western bank of the Connecticut River, which has flooded the low-lying riverfront in the past, including in 1936 and during the 1938 hurricane; the Mattabesett River also runs along the city's northern boundary. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Middletown

River flooding

Riverfront property and flood maps

Because Middletown runs along the Connecticut River, land closest to the river and Harbor Park has a history of flooding and can fall in a FEMA flood zone, which affects whether flood insurance is required for a mortgage. We check the flood map before you make an offer.

City sanitation district

Sanitation service isn't citywide

Curbside trash and recycling through the City Sanitation District covers central and northern Middletown for a separate fee; confirm whether a specific address is inside the district before assuming service is included.

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 Middletown?

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

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

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Middletown: utilities, trash and town offices

Who to call in Middletown: Eversource for power.

ElectricEversource
WaterCity of Middletown Water & Sewer Department
Sewer or septicCity of Middletown Water & Sewer Department serves developed areas; some outlying parts of the city rely on septic systems
Trash and recyclingThe City Sanitation District collects trash, recycling and food scraps curbside on the same day in central and northern Middletown, with residents in the district paying a separate sanitation fee. Residents may also bring recyclables to the city's recycling center with a resident tag.

Town offices and contacts

Middletown Town Hall is at 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457. Main line: 860-638-4900. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.

Middletown, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services

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

What is the mill rate in Middletown, CT?

Middletown's 2026–27 mill rate is 33.30, which is $33.30 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 32.46 mills.

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

Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 33.30 mills that's about $11,655 a year, or about $971 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 Middletown, CT?

In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Middletown was $364,500 across 300 sales, compared with $340,000 the year before. The median condo sale was $219,000 across 183 sales.

When is Middletown's next revaluation?

Middletown's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2027, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2028.

What county is Middletown in?

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

What ZIP codes does Middletown use?

Middletown uses ZIP codes 06457 and 06459.

Is there curbside trash pickup in Middletown?

Yes, in central and northern Middletown through the City Sanitation District, which collects trash, recycling and food scraps for a separate fee. Residents can also use the city's recycling center with a resident tag.

How far is Middletown from Hartford?

Hartford is about 16 miles north of Middletown, roughly a 25-minute drive.

Is there train service in Middletown?

Middletown does not have its own train station. The nearest Shore Line East and Amtrak connections are in Old Saybrook and New Haven.

Who supplies water in Middletown?

The City of Middletown's own Water & Sewer Department supplies municipal water and sewer service to developed parts of the city.

Towns near Middletown

Neighbors of Middletown in Middlesex County and nearby. All Middlesex 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 Middletown sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
Middletown, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
City of Middletown, CT official website: middletownct.gov
Middletown Assessor: middletownct.gov
Middletown Tax Collector: middletownct.gov
Middletown Sanitation Division: middletownct.gov
Middletown Recycling Center: middletownct.gov
Middletown Water & Sewer: middletownct.gov
Wadsworth Falls State Park - CT DEEP: portal.ct.gov
Eli Cannon's — Downtown Middletown: downtownmiddletown.com
Distance from Middletown, CT to Bradley International Airport (BDL): travelmath.com
Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
Checked September 25, 2026.