East Lyme hosts forest parks and beaches
Within a few miles, East Lyme can transition from rolling countryside to dense woodlands and sandy New England beaches. These natural locales, along with a vital job market around New London County, have made East Lyme a high-end home market over the last couple of decades. The town is also a popular summer destination for its parks and watersports along the Long Island Sound. The community is anchored by two villages, the forested Flanders and the seaside Niantic. “In Connecticut, we have towns and then villages within towns,” says Scott Pellerin, an East Lyme local and Licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker. “So Niantic and Flanders are part of the same town but have different zip codes.”
Hiking and lake boating in Flanders, swimming and fishing in Niantic
Niantic Beach is a popular destination for summertime swimming and sunbathing, right beside a mile-long boardwalk. Local businesses like Black Hawk Sport Fishing offer charters for anglers to catch cod, sea bass and bluefish. Other smaller beaches are restricted to town residents, like McCook’s Beach, and Giant’s Neck Beach, which is maintained by the neighborhood HOA. In Flanders, there’s Pattagansett Lake, featuring a kayak launch and a small swimming area. The lake is often used for seasonal bass fishing tournaments. Nehantic State Forest is also in Flanders, and locals can explore 12 miles of trails, fish for trout in several ponds, and hunt deer and turkeys in established zones around the park.
Various diners line Main Street
Flanders Plaza hosts Tri-Town Foods for groceries and restaurants like Il Pomod’Oro Restaurant & Pizzeria, which serves authentic Italian entrees like veal parmesan and wood-fired pies. To the south in Niantic, locals can browse local boutiques and diners along Main Street, just steps away from the beach. Folks can sip and socialize at upscale establishments like 374 Kitchen + Cocktails, sample shrimp and clam platters on the outdoor patio at Skipper’s Seafood Restaurant or grab a salami sub to-go at Hartford Giant Grinder.
Single-family homes vary by neighborhood
East Lyme’s homes range from $450,000 to $1.6 million, varying by square footage, lot size and neighborhood. The village of Niantic is south of Interstate 95, while Flanders is to the north. “With Niantic, you’ve got a shopping area downtown, beach neighborhoods like Giants Neck, and all-around higher-end areas with waterfront homes like Black Point,” says Pellerin. “In Flanders, you get more standard residential neighborhoods with woodlands.” The community hosts Colonial Revivals and ramblers, usually built from the 1960s through the ‘90s, while newer Craftsman-style homes have been popping up in the last couple of decades. Multi-acre lots are also available starting around $100,000.
East Lyme School District has strong athletic programs
East Lyme School District serves the town and is ranked by Niche as the second-best school district in New London County. Students can attend Lillie B. Haynes School and East Lyme Middle, which both get A-minus ratings, and finish their studies at the A-rated East Lyme High School. The district is also ranked as the eighth-best district for athletics in the state, and it’s common to see East Lyme High’s crew team practice on Pattagansett Lake.
I-95 access to Southern Connecticut employers
“There’s a large employment base in Southeast Connecticut that’s mostly local,” says Pellerin. “A lot of doctors work at nearby hospitals, Pfizer is another big employer, and there’s an active military presence.” Pfizer’s corporate office in Groton is a 13-mile drive east along the bustling Interstate 95. Connecticut National Guard employees can also commute to Camp Nett, within Niantic, while Naval Submarine Base New London is a few miles away. Hartford is only 48 miles north along Connecticut state Route 9, while New Haven is 40 miles west along I-95. Just 10 miles east in New London, there’s an Amtrak station as well as ferry service to Fisher’s Island and Long Island.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
