Overview of Connecticut Taxes
Connecticut homeowners pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. The state’s average effective property tax rate (taxes as a percentage of home value) is 1.96%, which ranks as the third-highest of any state in the U.S.
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About This Answer
To calculate the exact amount of property tax you will owe requires your property's assessed value and the property tax rates based on your property's address. Please note that we can only estimate your property tax based on median property taxes in your area. There are typically multiple rates in a given area, because your state, county, local schools and emergency responders each receive funding partly through these taxes. In our calculator, we take your home value and multiply that by your county's effective property tax rate. This is equal to the median property tax paid as a percentage of the median home value in your county.
Connecticut Property Taxes
On a nationwide scale, Connecticut homeowners pay the fourth highest property taxes in the U.S. The state’s average effective property tax rate is 1.96%, which is double the 0.99% national average.
Connecticut is unusual in that counties are not responsible for administering property taxes. Instead, cities and towns set rates and collect the taxes.
If you do not yet have a home in Connecticut, but are looking to purchase one, check out our guide to Connecticut mortgage rates and how to get a mortgage there before you make the move.
A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
How Connecticut Property Taxes Work
Cities and towns alone administer all property taxes in the state of Connecticut. While the state does have some oversight of the process, homeowners deal almost entirely with local officials. The local municipality assigns assessors who valuate property to determine its fair market value. By law, this must happen at least once every five years, but assessments can be more frequent than that.
Once a property’s fair market value has been established, the statewide assessment ratio of 70% is applied. This means that a property’s assessed value is equal to 70% of its market value. The homeowner does not pay taxes on market value, but rather on the lower assessed value. For example, if your home is worth $500,000, the assessed value comes out to $350,000.
Connecticut Property Tax Rates
Municipalities in Connecticut apply property taxes in terms of mill rates. A mill rate is equal to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed value. To calculate your tax based on your mill rate, divide your assessed value by 1,000 and multiply the result by your mill rate.
In turn, a home with a market value of $500,000, and consequently a $350,000 assessed value and a mill rate of 50, would pay $17,500 in annual property taxes.
The table below shows the average effective property tax rates for each of Connecticut’s eight counties. An effective property tax rate is equal to taxes paid as a percentage of home value. The U.S. average effective property tax rate is 1.07%.
Want to learn more about your mortgage payments? Check out our mortgage calculator.
Fairfield County
Fairfield County is the most populous county in the state of Connecticut. Major cities here include Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk. At a 1.83% average effective rate, property taxes in Fairfield County are lower than the 1.96% state average, but higher than the 0.99% national average.
If you have questions about how property taxes can affect your overall financial plans, a financial advisor in Stamford can help you out.
Hartford County
While homeowners in Hartford County pay less annually than those in Fairfield County, they actually face higher rates. The average effective property tax rate across Hartford County is 2.4%, which is well above the 1.96% state average.
In the city of Hartford, the mill rate is 74.29 mills. That's higher than many other nearby cities.
New Haven County
Effective property tax rates in New Haven are the highest in the state of Connecticut. The countywide average effective rate is 2.38%. This translates to a median annual property tax payment of $6,002, good for second-largest in the state.
The cities of New Haven and Waterbury are two of the most populous metropolises in New Haven County. In each of these cities, the millage rates are 43.88 mills and 60.21 mills, respectively.
New London County
Located in southeastern Connecticut along the East Coast, New London has some of the lowest property taxes on average of any Connecticut county. (Although, as mentioned above, municipalities, not counties, administer tax rates in Connecticut).
The average effective property tax rate in New London County is 1.95%. That's slightly lower than the state rate of 1.96%. Neither of these rates compare favorably to the national average property tax rate, though, which currently stands at 0.99%.
Litchfield County
Litchfield County residents pay a median property tax of $5,335 annually. That is lower than the state average ($6,096), although it's still well above the national average ($2,795). Effective property tax rates in Litchfield County are also above the national average, as they currently stand at 2.07%.
Middlesex County
Middlesex County is located in central Connecticut, south of Hartford. One of the largest cities in the county is Middletown, where the city millage rate is 35.80 mills. Including all municipalities in Middlesex County, the average effective property tax rate is 2.01%.
Tolland County
Tolland County is the second-smallest county in Connecticut by population. Homeowners in the county pay a median property tax bill of $5,818 annually. Tax rates, which municipalities determine, vary depending on where you live. For example, in Andover the rate is 35.61 mills. In Stafford, the rate is slightly lower at 34.93 mills.
Windham County
If you’re looking for low property tax rates in Connecticut, it might be a good idea to start your search in Windham County. The median property tax payment residents pay annually is $4,049, which is considerably cheaper than the $6,096 state median.
