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Property Taxes in Connecticut

Effective Rate

Connecticut has one of the highest property tax burdens in the country. Its statewide average effective property tax rate (taxes paid as a % of home value) is commonly cited around 1.5%–2.0%, with SmartAsset putting it at 1.66% and other trackers citing figures from 1.54% up to 1.92-2.0%, depending on methodology (owner-occupied housing value vs. assessed value vs. county blend). This is roughly double the ~0.99% national average cited in most current sources (note: some 2026 trackers peg the U.S. average slightly lower, around 0.89%-0.91%). Connecticut consistently ranks among the top 3-5 highest-tax states nationally, behind states like New Jersey and Illinois. There is enormous local variation because all 169 municipalities set their own mill rate independently: the statewide average mill rate for FY2025-26 is roughly 28-32 mills, but this ranges from under 11 mills in wealthy Fairfield County towns (Greenwich, Darien, Westport, New Canaan, Wilton) to nearly 69 mills in Hartford, one of the highest municipal rates in the entire U.S. Properties are assessed at 70% of fair market value before the mill rate is applied, which is a key structural driver of the higher effective rates.

Example: Connecticut's statewide median annual property tax bill is approximately $6,570-$6,670 (figures cluster around $6,573-$6,666 depending on the source/year), the 3rd-highest median tax bill of any state in the U.S. This masks wide regional variation: median bills reach roughly $8,867 in Fairfield County (the state's highest-cost area, home to Greenwich/Stamford-area towns) versus about $4,594 in Windham County (a lower-cost, more rural area in eastern CT) — nearly a 2x difference within the same state.

Exemptions

Homeowners' Elderly/Disabled Circuit Breaker Tax Relief Program
Amount: Up to $1,250 credit for married couples / $1,000 for single applicants (graduated by income)
State-funded credit under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 12-170aa, administered locally. Applicants must be 65+ (or disabled) and meet income limits (roughly $53,400 single / $65,000 married for 2026, indexed annually for inflation). Apply via Form M-35H with the local assessor between February 1 and May 15; requires prior-year federal tax return/SSA-1099 and reapplication every 2 years. This is a credit against the tax bill, not a flat exemption.
Veterans' Property Tax Exemption
Amount: Base $1,000 assessed-value exemption (CGS Sec. 12-81(19)); income-eligible veterans get an added $1,000-$2,000, for a combined exemption up to $3,000+ of assessed value; some sources note the effective statutory minimum has risen closer to $1,500 in practice due to revaluation adjustments
Requires honorable discharge and qualifying wartime service (generally 90+ days, with exceptions for service-connected discharge). Veterans with 100% permanent & total disability ratings qualify for enhanced/expanded exemptions under more recent statutory changes. File DD-214 with the town clerk, then an exemption application with the local assessor.
New Local-Option Homestead Exemption (SB 447, 2026 session)
Amount: Up to $50,000 of assessed value exempted, at each municipality's option
NOT a general statewide homestead exemption today — Connecticut has never had one, unlike Texas/Florida. SB 447 passed both chambers of the CT General Assembly by the end of the 2026 session (session ended May 6, 2026) and was awaiting Governor Lamont's signature as of this research. It would let municipalities opt in, starting with the October 1, 2027 Grand List, to exempt the first $50,000 of assessed value on owner-occupied single-family homes, condos, or common-interest primary residences (municipalities may impose a residency-duration requirement and require annual reapplication). This is a legislative development to watch, not yet a guaranteed benefit for all CT homeowners.

Be skeptical of several SEO-style sites (e.g., propertytaxrates.org, appealdesk.com, askdoss.com, ambrogiopletter.com, countrytaxcalc.com, shahrozesparacha.com) that surfaced in search results with suspiciously precise but inconsistent rate/dollar figures and aggressive headlines like "Save $500-$2,000" for a homestead exemption that doesn't broadly exist yet — their numbers were cross-checked against authoritative sources (portal.ct.gov, cga.ct.gov, jud.ct.gov, SmartAsset, Tax Foundation) before being included here, and any unverifiable figures from those sites were excluded. Practical tip: because Connecticut's 169 municipalities each set independent mill rates on property assessed at 70% of fair market value, the single most impactful "rate" a CT homeowner should check is their own town's current mill rate (ranging roughly 11-69 mills) rather than relying on any statewide average.

Facts on this page reflect research current as of 2026-07-05. Programs, rates, and laws change — confirm current figures with the relevant state agency before relying on them.

Related Resources
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