Living in East Haddam, CT
East Haddam is a Middlesex County town on the east bank of the Connecticut River, with the Goodspeed Opera House, the village of Moodus, Gillette Castle State Park and Lake Hayward.
East Haddam at a glance
- Median sale price
- $465,000+8.1% vs last year 126 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 28.67 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$9,300 median-priced home
- Population
- 9,061 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 54.3 sq mi 167 per sq mi
What it is like in East Haddam
East Haddam is in Middlesex County, on the east side of the Connecticut River. It covers 54.25 square miles of land and had 9,061 residents in the facts used for this guide. Bordering towns are Colchester, Lyme, Chester, Salem, Haddam and East Hampton.
Settlers bought the land in 1662, roads were laid out in 1669 and permanent settlers arrived in 1685. East Haddam became a separate town from Haddam in 1734. A ferry ran across the river from 1695 until the East Haddam Bridge, a swing bridge, opened in 1913. Moodus was known in the 19th century for its twine mills.
Principal communities include East Haddam Center, Moodus, Hadlyme, Millington, Leesville, Bashan, Little Haddam and North Plain.
Gillette Castle State Park, built by actor William Gillette and completed in 1914, has a river overlook and hiking trails. Devil's Hopyard State Park is also in town. The facts file lists Lake Hayward, Lower Moodus Reservoir and Salmon River boat launches, the East Haddam Town Beach, Nichols Field, Millington Green and the Edith Lefebvre and Hammond Mill preserves. Fox Hopyard Golf Club and Banner Country Club are the golf courses.
The Goodspeed Opera House on Main Street stages musicals from April to December. The Nathan Hale School House, where Hale taught in the winter of 1773, is on Route 149. Music on the River holds free concerts on the Goodspeed green in July and August, and the Thunder in the Valley Drum and Fife Muster is held in the fall. Gelston House, Jimmy's Legacy Grille and Higher Grounds are on Main Street.
Getting around from East Haddam
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 54 min | 35 |
| New Haven | 65 min | 40 |
| Stamford | 120 min | 83 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 174 min | 119 |
| Boston | 157 min | 121 |
| Providence | 97 min | 71 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 75 min | 49 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
Route 82 runs past the Goodspeed Opera House, the East Haddam Bridge and Gillette Castle State Park, and Route 149 passes the Nathan Hale School House. No rail stations are listed for the town in the facts file.
New Haven is 40 miles and 65 minutes by car, Hartford 35 miles and 54 minutes, and Bradley Airport 49 miles and 75 minutes. Providence is 71 miles and 97 minutes, Stamford 83 miles and 120 minutes, Boston 121 miles and 157 minutes, and Midtown New York City 119 miles and 174 minutes.
Schools in East Haddam
3 public schools in East Haddam School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 1
- East Haddam
Middle 1
- Nathan Hale-Ray
High school 1
- Nathan Hale-Ray High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up East Haddam School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in East Haddam
Open East Haddam in Google Maps →Eat and drink 8
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Restaurant serving gourmet pizza, grinders, burgers, pasta, seafood and Spanish-style bowls.
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American and pub restaurant with a full bar beside the Goodspeed Opera House, open Wednesday through Sunday.
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Coffee house and eatery on Main Street near the Goodspeed Opera House.
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Grill on Main Street serving internationally inspired dishes, closed Mondays.
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Ice cream shop in the Nathan Hale Plaza serving soft serve cones, scoops and milkshakes.
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Restaurant and bar at Fox Hopyard Golf Club, set on a rock ledge above the course.
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Coffee house serving breakfast and lunch items such as sandwiches and wraps.
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Tap room in the Yankee Cider Barn pouring hard ciders made from apples grown on the farm, with flights and growler fills.
Things to do and see 2
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Riverside theater opened in 1877 that stages musicals from April to December; Annie opens October 30.
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Farm on Route 82 with a fruit-wine tasting room, pick-your-own fruit in season and choose-and-cut Christmas trees.
Parks, preserves and trails 60
Show 46 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
East Haddam housing market
Over the last 12 months, 126 homes sold in East Haddam with a median sale price of $465,000 and a median of 13 days on market. There are 24 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $273 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 8.1% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2.3 months.
East Haddam's town-wide property tax rate is 28.67 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $9,300 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in East Haddam
See all 24 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering East Haddam.
Questions about East Haddam
What is the median home price in East Haddam, CT?
The median sale price in East Haddam is $465,000, based on 126 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in East Haddam, CT?
East Haddam's town-wide property tax rate is 28.67 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $9,300 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is East Haddam, CT from Hartford?
East Haddam is about 35 miles and a 54-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is East Haddam, CT from New York City?
East Haddam is about 119 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 174-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of East Haddam, CT?
East Haddam has about 9,061 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 54.3 square miles.
How many public schools are in East Haddam, CT?
East Haddam has 3 public schools in East Haddam School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in East Haddam, CT?
There are 24 homes for sale in East Haddam right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
How far is East Haddam from Hartford and New Haven?
Hartford is 35 miles and about 54 minutes by car. New Haven is 40 miles and about 65 minutes away.
What is the Goodspeed Opera House?
It is a theater at 6 Main Street, opened in 1877, that stages musicals during an April to December season.
Which villages are in East Haddam?
Principal communities include East Haddam Center, Moodus, Hadlyme, Millington, Leesville, Bashan, Little Haddam and North Plain.
Where are the boat launches?
The facts file lists boat launches at Lake Hayward, Lower Moodus Reservoir and the Salmon River.
Which towns border East Haddam?
Colchester, Lyme, Chester, Salem, Haddam and East Hampton.
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