Living in Stratford, CT
Stratford is a Fairfield County town at the mouth of the Housatonic River on Long Island Sound, home to Sikorsky Aircraft, Short Beach, Boothe Memorial Park and a Metro-North station.
Stratford at a glance
- Median sale price
- $465,000+3.3% vs last year 677 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 37.73 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$12,300 median-priced home
- Population
- 53,610 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 17.5 sq mi 3,067 per sq mi
What it is like in Stratford
Stratford sits on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River, in Fairfield County. It covers 17.48 square miles of land, has a population of 53,610, and borders Bridgeport, Milford, Trumbull and Shelton.
Settlers led by Rev. Adam Blakeman and William Beardsley arrived in 1639, and the town was incorporated in 1643 and named after Stratford-upon-Avon in England. Sikorsky Aircraft is headquartered in Stratford and has built every Marine One helicopter since 1957. Sikorsky Memorial Airport is in Stratford but owned by Bridgeport.
The American Shakespeare Theatre opened in Stratford in 1955 and closed in the mid-1980s. Since 2002 the Hudson Shakespeare Company has staged a Shakespeare in the Park production each year behind the Stratford Library.
Short Beach Park is a 30-acre park with lifeguards and a nine-hole golf course. Boothe Memorial Park in the Putney area is a free park along the Housatonic River with a homestead, a Merritt Parkway tollbooth on display and a planetarium. Stratford Point has a lighthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Great Meadows Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is a bird migration stopover. Other parks include Paradise Green Park, Long Brook Park and Pecks Mill Pond Park.
Two Roads Brewing Company on Stratford Avenue has a taproom with outdoor and rooftop patios. Danny's Drive-In on Ferry Boulevard has served hot dogs and burgers since 1935, and Sitting Duck Tavern sits beside Paradise Green. The Stratford Historical Society runs the Judson House on Academy Hill Road.
Getting around from Stratford
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 66 min | 48 |
| New Haven | 25 min | 15 |
| Stamford | 40 min | 27 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 93 min | 62 |
| Boston | 185 min | 148 |
| Providence | 147 min | 119 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 88 min | 65 |
Rail stations nearby
- Stratford 0.8 mi Metro-North, CTrail Hartford Line
- Bridgeport 3.6 mi Metro-North, CTrail Hartford Line, Amtrak
- Milford 3.7 mi Metro-North, CTrail Hartford Line
Highways and routes
Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) and US Route 1 serve the town, along with Routes 108, 110, 113 and 130. Drive times: New Haven 25 minutes (15 miles), Stamford 40 minutes (27 miles), Hartford 66 minutes (48 miles) and New York City Midtown 93 minutes (62 miles). Bradley Airport is 88 minutes away.
Stratford station, 0.8 miles away, has Metro-North and CTrail Hartford Line service. Bridgeport station (3.6 miles) adds Amtrak, and Milford station (3.7 miles) has Metro-North and CTrail Hartford Line service.
Schools in Stratford
13 public schools in Stratford School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 8
- Chapel
- Eli Whitney
- Franklin
- Lordship
- Nichols
- Second Hill Lane
- Stratford Academy - Johnson House
- Wilcoxson
Middle 2
- David Wooster
- Harry B. Flood
High school 2
- Bunnell High School
- Stratford High School
Other 1
- Stratford Academy - Victoria Soto School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Stratford 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 Stratford
Open Stratford in Google Maps →Eat and drink 9
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Italian restaurant offering dinner, takeout, reservations and gift cards.
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Drive-in open since 1935 serving hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches.
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Pizzeria serving pizza, pasta and other Italian dishes.
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Connecticut fast-food restaurant with dine-in, takeout and drive-thru service.
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Burger restaurant serving hand-ground burgers, fried chicken and sides; opened in 2025.
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Italian restaurant in the Oronoque Shopping Plaza serving brick oven pizza and pasta.
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Sports bar and restaurant serving tavern fare and cocktails, with karaoke and trivia nights.
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American tavern next to Paradise Green serving wings, beef tips and rotating specials.
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Brewery taproom with flights, cocktails, outdoor and rooftop patios, and food trucks on weekends.
Things to do and see 3
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Aviation museum in former Stratford Army Engine Plant buildings, open weekends, with vintage aircraft and Connecticut aviation exhibits.
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Georgian house museum from the mid-1700s run by the Stratford Historical Society.
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Free seasonal museum in the former eastbound railroad station covering helicopter history, including Sikorsky's Stratford work.
Parks, preserves and trails 23
Show 9 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.
Stratford housing market
Over the last 12 months, 677 homes sold in Stratford with a median sale price of $465,000 and a median of 24 days on market. There are 115 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $285 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 3.3% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2 months.
Stratford's town-wide property tax rate is 37.73 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $12,300 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 Stratford
See all 115 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Stratford.
Questions about Stratford
What is the median home price in Stratford, CT?
The median sale price in Stratford is $465,000, based on 677 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Stratford, CT?
Stratford's town-wide property tax rate is 37.73 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $12,300 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Stratford, CT from Hartford?
Stratford is about 48 miles and a 66-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Stratford, CT from New York City?
Stratford is about 62 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 93-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in Stratford, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is Stratford (Metro-North, CTrail Hartford Line) about 0.8 miles from the center of Stratford. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of Stratford, CT?
Stratford has about 53,610 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 17.5 square miles.
How many public schools are in Stratford, CT?
Stratford has 13 public schools in Stratford 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 Stratford, CT?
There are 115 homes for sale in Stratford right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Which train service does Stratford have?
Stratford station has Metro-North and CTrail Hartford Line service. Amtrak stops at Bridgeport station.
Does Stratford have beaches?
Yes. Short Beach Park is a 30-acre park with lifeguards and a nine-hole golf course, and Stratford Point has a lighthouse and shoreline.
What is Stratford known for?
Sikorsky Aircraft, which has built every Marine One helicopter since 1957, and the former American Shakespeare Theatre, which opened in 1955.
Which highways serve Stratford?
Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway (Route 15), US Route 1 and Routes 108, 110, 113 and 130.
Which towns border Stratford?
Bridgeport, Milford, Trumbull and Shelton.
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