Property Tax Rates for New London County in 2020

As tax season approaches in Connecticut, you'll want to be aware of what you owe so you can start planning ahead.

This state does things a little differently, as you're only responsible for paying tax on 70% of your home's appraised market value, and that number becomes your assessed value.

The value of your property is then divided by 1,000 and multiplied by the mill rate, which is the amount you'll pay per $1,000 of assessed value.

Keep in mind that there are ways that you can potentially reduce your tax bill if you feel it's too high, which we'll go over later.

Here's what you should know about property taxes in some of New London County's towns and cities.

East Lyme's Property Tax Rates

The town of East Lyme has a property tax rate of 28.19 per $1,000 of the assessed value of your property. This town includes the villages of Niantic and Flanders, with every section of the municipality having the same tax rate.

East Lyme has a median home price of $320,500, of which 70% is taxable under the state's current guidelines.

Norwich, CT Property Tax

You'll pay a different tax rate in Norwich, Connecticut, depending on the area of the city in which you live. The City Consolidation District, which is primarily the downtown area, but also includes neighborhoods like Greenville, Westside Norwich, and the Laurel Hill Historic District, has a tax rate of $47.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The areas of the city outside of the downtown core, collectively called the Town Consolidation District, have a lower rate, however, as residents there will pay $40.64 per $1,000 of assessed property value. These neighborhoods include Taftville, Norwichtown, Yantic, East Great Plain, Occum, and the section of Laurel Hill south of the historic district.

The reason for the variable tax rates is the type of fire department that serves each section of the city. If you live in the City Consolidation District, you'll have access to a paid fire department, while the Town Consolidation District has a volunteer department.

Keep in mind that the median home cost in Norwich, CT, is only $155,500, which helps keep the actual tax amounts that people pay at reasonable levels.

Property Tax in Mystic, Connecticut

Living in the village of Mystic, CT also means paying a different property tax rate based on which side of the Mystic River your property sits.

The west side of the Mystic River, which features parts of Mystic and Old Mystic, falls in the town of Groton, which has variable tax rates. Those living in Mystic will have property tax rates of $26.73 per $1,000 of assessed value, while those in Old Mystic will pay $27.35.

In addition, downtown Groton residents have a tax rate of $28.47 per $1,000 of assessed value, while Long Point charges $28.45, and Noank's rate is $25.73.

The section of Mystic on the east side of the river is part of Stonington, which has a property tax rate of $23.36 per $1,000 of assessed value. Communities like Pawcatuck, Old Mystic, Mason's Island, and Lords Point are also in Stonington.

Ways to Lower Your Tax Bill

If you find that your property taxes are too high, you might be able to have them reduced if you meet specific requirements.

• Those over the age of 65 are eligible for tax credits or assessment exemptions, provided they live in a home that they own. Veterans and disabled individuals can also apply for tax reductions, depending on their current income and other areas of eligibility.
• It's also possible to defer your tax payments in Groton if your amount due is more than 8% of your annual income. In this situation, homeowners can apply to pay part of their taxes later without being responsible for the full interest amount.
• A reassessment is done on your property's value every five years in Connecticut, which is far more regularly than many places in the United States. If you feel as though your home's value is over-inflated, you can file an appeal to potentially have the amount brought back in line with other homes in your neighborhood.

 This section of the state is one of the East Coast's most desirable places to live, and its tax rates generally fall in line with other parts of the Connecticut Shoreline.