CT Ranks #3 in Highest Property Taxes in the Nation as Greenwich's Tax Bargain Fades
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For the third consecutive year, Connecticut has secured a spot on a national leaderboard that no homeowner wants to see.
According to the 2026 report here from the Tax Foundation, using the latest Census Bureau data, Connecticut officially maintains the third-highest effective property tax rate in the nation for the third consecutive year. Trailing only New Jersey and Illinois, Connecticut’s heavy reliance on property taxes to fund local government continues to make it one of the most expensive states in the country for property owners.
The Greenwich Paradox: Low Rate, High Burden
Greenwich residents often feel shielded from Connecticut’s high tax reputation because our local mill rate is one of the lowest in the state, but our housing values are the highest in the state, making the tax burden heavy. Here is the math:
The Lowest Mill Rate: At 12.041, Greenwich has the 4th lowest mill rate in Connecticut. By comparison, a city like Hartford has a rate of 68.95.
The Highest Value: Because our property values are significantly higher than the state average, a "low" rate applied to a multimillion-dollar home still creates a tax burden that ranks among the highest in the nation.
The Result: A $2 million home in Greenwich carries a dollar amount similar to a $400,000 home in a high-mill-rate city. While we win on the "rate" (the percentage), the sheer scale of our property values keeps our total tax burden firmly anchored in that #3 national ranking. And remember, Greenwich still pays separately for trash collection and sewer hook-ups.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Revaluation
The timing of this report is particularly relevant as Greenwich navigates its 2025-2026 town-wide revaluation. Preliminary notices sent out this winter showed an average residential assessment increase of approximately 27%, and while the mill rate typically drops to offset the increase, there is a catch. In May the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) is preparing a budget that includes an additional 5-6% of spending that will be added to our already high tax burden.
Between the Lines: Connecticut is on the "naughty" list again—and in Greenwich, a low mill rate has less meaning when housing prices are being bid up by fleeing New Yorkers.