About East Haddam
What it's like to live here
East Haddam is a Middlesex County town of about 9,000 people on the east bank of the Connecticut River, covering about 56 square miles of river frontage, lakes and forest. The swing bridge on Route 82 crosses to Route 9, putting downtown Middletown about 25 minutes from East Haddam village and Hartford about 45 minutes away. Inland, the village of Moodus and lakes like Lake Hayward, Bashan Lake and Moodus Reservoir give the town a quieter, rural side.
East Haddam separated from Haddam in 1734. Its Native name, Machimoodus, means the place of noises, after the small earthquakes the area is known for. Nathan Hale taught in a one-room schoolhouse here in the winter of 1773, and in the 1800s Moodus was called the Twine Capital of America, with twelve mills. The Goodspeed Opera House, built in 1876 and 1877 and reopened in 1963, has sent 21 productions to Broadway, and William Gillette's stone castle still watches over the river.
Our East Hampton headquarters at 40 West High Street and our Colchester office at 392 South Main Street are each about 20 minutes from Moodus. Our agents live and sell here.
East Haddam Highlights
- The Goodspeed Opera House, where Annie and Man of La Mancha got their start
- Gillette Castle State Park, high above the Connecticut River
- Devil's Hopyard State Park and 60-foot Chapman Falls
- The 1913 East Haddam Swing Bridge
Watch
Moving to East Haddam, CT
Carl's guide to what you need to know before moving to East Haddam.
East Haddam market at a glance
East Haddam real estate market
Year to date through August 2026, single-family homes in East Haddam sold for a median of $479,000, closed at a median of 99.8% of list price, and spent a median of 49 days on the market. At the end of August, 30 single-family homes were for sale (3.1 months of supply). Condos and townhouses sold for a median of $329,000.
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 East Haddam
East Haddam Village
The riverfront village at the Route 82 swing bridge, home of the Goodspeed Opera House.
Moodus
A village of about 2,000 residents that was known as the Twine Capital of America in the 1800s.
Hadlyme
The southern river village shared with Lyme, with the Hadlyme North Historic District and Gillette Castle State Park nearby.
Millington
An inland village that was, by 1756, the most populated district in East Haddam.
Lake Hayward
A private, spring-fed lake community about 1.5 miles long, home to around 120 families.
Bashan
One of East Haddam's villages, around Bashan Lake, which grew as a resort area in the early 1900s.
Buying or selling
Why East Haddam?
Why buy in East Haddam
- The swing bridge and Route 9 put downtown Middletown about 25 minutes from East Haddam village
- East Haddam Public Schools, the town's own PreK-12 district: East Haddam Elementary, Nathan Hale-Ray Middle and Nathan Hale-Ray High
- Time outdoors at Devil's Hopyard, Gillette Castle State Park, Machimoodus State Park and the town's lakes
- Broadway-caliber musicals at the Goodspeed Opera House, right on the river
- History close to home, from the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse on Route 149 to the 1913 swing bridge
Why sell in East Haddam now
- Single-family homes are selling in a median of 49 days (year to date through August 2026)
- Sellers are getting a median of 99.8% of list price
- The single-family median sale price is $479,000 year to date
- About 3.1 months of supply, still a seller's market
Questions
East Haddam real estate FAQ
What is the median home price in East Haddam, CT?
For single-family homes, $479,000 year to date through August 2026, according to the SmartMLS Local Market Update. Condos and townhouses: $329,000. The live charts above show the latest trend.
What is the property tax rate in East Haddam?
The mill rate for fiscal year 2026-27 is 28.67 for real estate, per the Town of East Haddam. That is $28.67 in tax per $1,000 of assessed value, and Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value.
How far is East Haddam from Middletown and Hartford?
Downtown Middletown is about 17 miles from East Haddam village, roughly 25 minutes, over the swing bridge and Route 9. Downtown Hartford is about 33 miles, roughly 45 minutes.
What schools serve East Haddam?
East Haddam Public Schools is the town's own PreK-12 district: East Haddam Elementary School (PreK-3), Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School (4-8) and Nathan Hale-Ray High School (9-12).
Does Carl Guild & Associates have an office near East Haddam?
Yes. Our headquarters at 40 West High Street in East Hampton and our Colchester office at 392 South Main Street are each about 20 minutes from Moodus. Call 860-474-3500.
Currently on the market
Homes for sale in East Haddam
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Nearby
Other towns in Middlesex County
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