About Colchester
What it's like to live here
Colchester is a New London County town of about 15,800 people where Route 2 meets the northern end of Route 11. Downtown Norwich is about 15 miles away, Hartford is about 25 miles, roughly 35 minutes, up Route 2, and New London is about 35 minutes south. The village center still grows out from its town green, and the west side of town is woods and water, with Day Pond State Park, Salmon River State Forest and the Air Line Trail.
Colchester was settled in the late 1600s and named for Colchester in Essex, England. The village grew around the first meeting house and burying ground, then prospered as a crossroads of early 1800s turnpikes. Pierpont Bacon's bequest opened Bacon Academy in 1803, the region's first secondary school, and in 1873 the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad threw the Lyman Viaduct across Dickinson Creek. The village center is now a National Register historic district.
Our Colchester office is right in the village at 392 South Main Street, and our East Hampton headquarters is about 12 miles west. Our agents live and sell here.
Colchester Highlights
- Bacon Academy, founded in 1803 and still the town's public high school
- The Colchester Town Green and its 75-acre village historic district
- The Air Line State Park Trail across the 1873 Lyman Viaduct
- Our Colchester office at 392 South Main Street
Watch
Moving to Colchester, CT
Carl's guide to what you need to know before moving to Colchester.
Colchester market at a glance
Colchester real estate market
Year to date through August 2026, single-family homes in Colchester sold for a median of $520,000, closed at a median of 104.2% of list price, and spent a median of 26 days on the market. At the end of August, 31 single-family homes were for sale (2.3 months of supply). Condos and townhouses sold for a median of $374,000.
Written figures: SmartMLS Local Market Update, single-family, year to date through August 2026. Charts update automatically from SmartMLS, include all property types, and show rolling 12-month data.
Neighborhoods
Getting to know Colchester
Colchester Village
The 75-acre historic district around the Town Green, with Bacon Academy, the Wheeler Block and the Hayward House.
Westchester
A village in the western part of town on Route 16, near Day Pond State Park.
North Westchester
A rural hamlet north of Westchester village in the western part of town.
Lake Hayward
A 174-acre lake in the southern part of town, with homes along its shore.
Near Day Pond State Park
The wooded west side around 180-acre Day Pond State Park, with a swimming pond and trails into Salmon River State Forest.
Along the Air Line Trail
Northwestern Colchester, where the Air Line State Park Trail crosses Dickinson Creek on the 1,112-foot Lyman Viaduct.
Buying or selling
Why Colchester?
Why buy in Colchester
- Route 2 and Route 11 meet here, putting Norwich about 25 minutes away and Hartford about 35
- Colchester Public Schools: Colchester Elementary, Jack Jackter Intermediate, William J. Johnston Middle and Bacon Academy
- Swimming and trails at Day Pond State Park, plus fishing and hiking in Salmon River State Forest
- The Air Line Trail and its 137-foot-high Lyman Viaduct for walking, running and biking
- A true village center on the Town Green, with Cragin Memorial Library and community events like Celebrate Colchester
Why sell in Colchester now
- Single-family homes are selling in a median of 26 days (year to date through August 2026)
- Sellers are getting a median of 104.2% of list price
- The single-family median sale price is $520,000 year to date
- About 2.3 months of supply, still a seller's market
Questions
Colchester real estate FAQ
What is the median home price in Colchester, CT?
For single-family homes, $520,000 year to date through August 2026, according to the SmartMLS Local Market Update. Condos and townhouses: $374,000. The live charts above show the latest trend.
What is the property tax rate in Colchester?
The mill rate for fiscal year 2026-27 is 30.43 for real estate, per the Town of Colchester. That is $30.43 in tax per $1,000 of assessed value, and Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value. It is billed as 29.92 mills on the July tax bills plus 0.51 mills on a supplemental bill.
How far is Colchester from Norwich and Hartford?
Downtown Norwich is about 15 miles, roughly 25 minutes, via Route 2. Downtown Hartford is about 25 miles, roughly 35 minutes, via Route 2, and New London is about 21 miles, roughly 35 minutes, via Route 11.
What schools serve Colchester?
Colchester Public Schools is the town's own PreK-12 district: Colchester Elementary School (PreK-2), Jack Jackter Intermediate School (3-5), William J. Johnston Middle School (6-8) and Bacon Academy (9-12).
Does Carl Guild & Associates have an office in Colchester?
Yes. Our Colchester office is at 392 South Main Street, and our headquarters is at 40 West High Street in East Hampton. Call 860-474-3500.
Currently on the market
Homes for sale in Colchester
Search the live MLS feed and filter to Colchester to see everything available right now.
Thinking about Colchester?
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