Lisbon pairs rural New England living with lower tax rates
The town of Lisbon, Connecticut, combines features typical of the countryside — including farms and horse stables — with amenities often found in the suburbs, such as an interstate and a large shopping center. Meanwhile, this spread-out, largely undeveloped town outside Norwich offers a strong financial advantage. The mill rate, which affects how much homeowners pay in property taxes, is lower than in most surrounding towns and is among the lowest in the state. That’s a draw for many buyers, says Heather Bassett, broker/owner of Team Bassett Realty in Lisbon. “If they want lower taxes, Lisbon has that going for it.” That’s particularly useful in Connecticut, which usually ranks among the states with the highest average property taxes.
Lisbon has a low population density, but some areas provide a closer knit community.
Lisbon features homes that are generously spaced, contributing to a sense of privacy and rural character.
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Small subdivisions spread throughout the countryside
The median lot size measures a little over an acre, and homes with 10-plus acres of land occasionally hit the market. However, Lisbon isn’t known for isolated living. “There is some decent acreage, but a lot of Lisbon is subdivisions,” Bassett says. Communities of ranch homes, split-levels and Colonial Revivals shoot off Lisbon’s highways. Houses typically cost between $250,000 and $450,000, though larger homes are priced in the $500,000s. Mobile homes clustered on the south end of Lisbon usually sell between $50,000 and $100,000.
The town’s CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
A ranch style home in Lisbon has a red fence that matches the red shutters on the house.
A home in Lisbon sits on a large plot of land with large yard sectioned off by small trees.
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Recreation includes boating and trails through historic properties
Rivers and ponds surround much of Lisbon, and a boat launch off Riverview Drive lets people set out on the Shetucket River for cruising or fishing. Meanwhile, Lisbon Central School’s baseball and softball teams play at the town’s Lisbon Meadows Park. A disc golf course, soccer field and tennis courts complement the park’s baseball field. To the north, just under 2 miles of trails wind around the property of the Burnham Tavern, built before the Revolutionary War.
A person backs their boat into the Shetucket River for an afternoon of fishing, near Lisbon.
A woman practices ultimate frisbee on a soccer field in Lisbon Meadows Park.
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Shopping, dining and entertainment at Lisbon Landing
One of the most important additions to the town came nearly 25 years ago, when Lisbon Landing was built along U.S. Route 12. The shopping plaza contains shopping essentials, such as Target, The Home Depot and Aldi, as well as an AMC movie theater. There are about a dozen other businesses, including department stores and chain restaurants. Farther north on Route 12, a pair of local restaurants stand across the highway from each other. Just Breakfast & Things is a community diner, while Green Onion Pizza Restaurant has been around since the ‘80s.
Lisbon residents looking for big box retail stores can shop at Aldi for all grocery needs.
Green Onion Pizza in Lisbon provides a delicious option for those seeking a midday bite.
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Attending the Lisbon Public School District
Lisbon’s lone public school sits near the middle of town: Lisbon Central School. The school for kindergarteners through eighth graders receives a B grade from Niche. Eighth graders who graduate from the school can apply for the Ethel L. Ducharme Scholarship. Named after a Lisbon resident, the scholarship annually awards $3,000 to a student planning to study medicine in college. Teens can go to Griswold High, a B-rated school less than 2 miles east of Lisbon.
Griswold High School has about 610 students in grades 9-12 and draws students from Lisbon and the surrounding areas.
Lisbon Central School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th and has approximately 400 students.
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An annual fall festival and a seasonal farmers market
The town’s premier annual event, the Lisbon Fall Festival, kicks off every September with a community dinner of chowder and fritters, followed by a 5K run the next morning. Locals spend the rest of the day playing games, shopping from craft vendors and tasting food cooked over a hearth by the Lisbon Historical Society. September is also the final month of the year for the Lisbon Farmers’ Market. Starting in June, the market is held every Thursday afternoon on the grounds of the historic Newent Meeting House.
Interstate access to Norwich and Massachusetts
Bassett says another feature that often stands out to homebuyers is Interstate 395, which passes through Lisbon. The interstate leads to Norwich, about 9 miles away, and about 35 miles north to the Massachusetts state line. Many locals work about 20 miles away in the town of Groton or at the Naval Submarine Base New London, Bassett says. “You’ll get military members who are stationed here.” Southeast Area Transit District runs a bus route between Lisbon Landing and Norwich.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
