Salem center
270 Hartford Road, Salem, CT 06420
Living in Salem, Connecticut
Salem is a rural town in New London County between Colchester, Lyme and Montville, incorporated in 1819. It has no dense village center; its landscape is shaped by several lakes and ponds, including Gardner Lake and Witch Meadow Lake, and by a town green that anchors the historic district.
Salem at a glance
- $446,650Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
- 30.20 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 20–25 minDrive to Norwich
- New LondonCounty · Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region
Salem's zip code
Salem is served by the 06420 zip code.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Salem center | 06420 | The town green and historic district along Hartford Road, including the Salem Town House and Salem Congregational Church. |
Salem covers about 29.8 square miles and borders Colchester, Lyme and Montville. It was incorporated in 1819.
Things to do in Salem, CT
Start with Salem Town House and Salem Congregational Church, then 1 more below.
Salem Town House
A historic town building in the Salem Historic District on the town green.
Hartford Road, Salem, CT 06420
Salem Congregational Church
An 1840 church building that is part of the Salem Historic District around the town green.
Hartford Road, Salem, CT 06420
Gardner Lake
A lake on Salem's border with Bozrah and Montville, used for boating and fishing, with a lake association and surrounding cottage community.
Salem, CT
Around the calendar
- SeptemberSalem Apple FestivalAn annual town festival held on the Salem green.
- SeptemberSalem 5K Road RaceAn annual road race through town, part of Salem's fall community events.
A little history
Salem was incorporated as a town in 1819, formed from parts of Colchester, Lyme and Montville.
Explorer Hiram Bingham III, who led the 1911 expedition that brought Machu Picchu in Peru to international attention, was born in Salem.
Music Vale Seminary operated in Salem from 1835 into the 1870s as an early music school, at a time when the town also had a local piano-manufacturing operation.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Salem
Salem's outdoor recreation centers on its lakes and ponds rather than any single large park, with Gardner Lake and Witch Meadow Lake the two best known.
- Gardner LakeA lake on Salem's border with Bozrah and Montville used for boating and fishing.
- Witch Meadow LakeA lake within Salem used by area residents for recreation.
Walkability and getting around Salem
Salem has no commercial center to walk to; the town green and surrounding historic buildings are the closest thing to a gathering point. A car is necessary for almost every errand.
Drive times
- Norwich, about 12 miles20–25 min
- Groton-New London Airport, about 20 miles30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Salem has no fixed-route public transit.
Salem property taxes and home prices
Salem's 2026–27 mill rate is 30.20, which is $30.20 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 $2,114 a year in taxes at 30.20 mills.
What homes in Salem sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $405,00053 sales | $106,50012 sales |
| Sep 2025 | $446,65046 sales | $127,0008 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Salem's mill rate for 2026–27
30.20mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Salem30.20 mills
- Motor vehicles30.20 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2026
How Salem's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 28.80 |
| 2023–24 | 28.80 |
| 2024–25 | 28.80 |
| 2025–26 | 30.20 |
| 2026–27 | 30.20 |
Salem's town rate went from 28.80 in 2022–23 to 30.20 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2026.
Look up a Salem 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 Salem
What we check on a Salem purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map, private well and septic and lake community.
First-time buyer programs in Salem
CHFA sets Salem'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
Land around Salem's lakes and ponds, including Gardner Lake and Witch Meadow Lake, can fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for SalemNo town water or sewer
Salem has no municipal water or sewer system, so almost every property relies on a private well and septic system. A well and septic inspection is worth budgeting for during due diligence.
Gardner Lake shoreline and association rules
Properties on or near Gardner Lake may be part of a lake association with its own dues and rules; ask about association membership and any required fees before you make an offer.
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 Salem?
Send us a Salem address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Salem: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Salem: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasNo natural gas service
- WaterMostly private wells
- Sewer or septicNo town sewer system; properties use septic systems.
- Trash and recyclingSalem does not provide curbside trash collection; residents use the town transfer station.
Town offices and contacts
Salem Town Hall is at 270 Hartford Road, Salem, CT 06420. Main line: 860-859-3873. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website860-859-3873
- Town ClerkVital records, land records, licenses and permits
- AssessorProperty values and assessments
- Tax CollectorTax billing and collection
- Building DepartmentPermits and inspections
- Planning & ZoningLand use and development review
- Parks & RecreationTown recreation programs
- Transfer StationTrash and recycling drop-off
- Salem Free Public LibraryThe town's public library
- East Lyme High School (co-op)Salem students in grades 9–12 attend East Lyme High School under a cooperative agreement; district website
Salem, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Salem, CT?
Salem's 2026–27 mill rate is 30.20, which is $30.20 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is 30.20 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Salem?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 30.20 mills that's about $10,570 a year, or about $881 a month. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
What is the median home price in Salem, CT?
In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Salem was $446,650 across 46 sales, compared with $405,000 the year before. The median condo sale was $127,000 across 8 sales.
When is Salem's next revaluation?
Salem'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 Salem, CT in?
Salem is in New London County, within the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region.
What is Salem's zip code?
Salem's zip code is 06420.
Does Salem have curbside trash pickup?
No. Salem does not provide curbside collection; residents use the town transfer station.
Where do Salem high school students go to school?
Salem students in grades 9–12 attend East Lyme High School under a cooperative agreement.
Is there public transit in Salem?
No, Salem has no fixed-route public transit.
Where is Salem's town hall?
Town hall is at 270 Hartford Road, Salem, CT 06420.
Towns near Salem
Neighbors of Salem 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 Salem sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Salem, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Salem official website: salemct.gov
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.