Groton, CT Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Groton, Connecticut, lies on the east bank of the Thames River, across from New London, and is home to Naval Submarine Base New London, Electric Boat and Pfizer. This guide covers the City of Groton, Poquonnock Bridge, Noank, Groton Long Point and the Groton side of Mystic: what it is like to live here, things to do, places to eat, and what to know before buying or selling a home.

Groton lies on the east bank of the Thames River, directly across from New London. Fishers Island Sound forms the southern edge of town, the Mystic River and Stonington are to the east, and Ledyard is to the north.

Groton is a town of separate villages, and the housing differs from one to the next:

• City of Groton. A political subdivision of the town along the Thames River, with its own mayor and council, police, fire and public works departments, and a city-owned utility, Groton Utilities. Electric Boat's shipyard is on Eastern Point Road beside the river.
• Poquonnock Bridge. The village at U.S. Route 1 and Route 117, where Groton Town Hall is located.
• Submarine base area. Naval Submarine Base New London runs along the Thames off Route 12. The main gate is on Crystal Lake Road, about 2 miles north of Interstate 95.
• Mystic (Groton side). West of the Mystic River, a historic district of 265 houses in 19th-century Greek Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne styles.
• Noank. A village on a small, steep peninsula at the mouth of the Mystic River, with several marinas and a historic district of about 260 houses with Greek Revival, Gothic and Eastlake details.
• Groton Long Point. A shoreline community on Fishers Island Sound administered by the Groton Long Point Association, which has its own police and volunteer fire department.

Interstate 95 crosses Groton and the Gold Star Memorial Bridge to New London. Route 12 runs north to the submarine base and Ledyard, Route 349 leads south toward Electric Boat, Route 117 connects Poquonnock Bridge with Ledyard Center, and Route 215 loops through Noank, Groton Long Point and West Mystic.

The three largest employers are Naval Submarine Base New London, General Dynamics Electric Boat and Pfizer, which has a research and development campus in Groton.

Recreation in Groton follows the shoreline.

• Bluff Point State Park and Coastal Reserve. An undeveloped 800-acre peninsula with a loop trail and a beach.
• Haley Farm State Park. Former farmland with a bike trail and a bridge to Bluff Point.
• Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. A Revolutionary War fort and the 135-foot Groton Monument.
• Submarine Force Museum. Home of USS Nautilus, beside the submarine base.
• Beaches. Esker Point Beach is a Town beach near Noank. At the City of Groton's Eastern Point Beach, vehicles need a City pass or pay a daily fee in season.
• UConn Avery Point. A public shoreline walkway and Avery Point Light.
• Shennecossett Golf Course. The Town's 18-hole public course, designed by Donald Ross.
• Trails, parks and boating. The Town has the G&S Trolley Trail and Poquonnock Plains Park, Noank has several marinas, and state boat launches are at Bayberry Lane and on the Thames River.

More ideas: Things to do in Groton on Tripadvisor.

Places to eat in Groton are spread across its villages. In the City of Groton, Thames Street runs beside the river. In Noank, seasonal seafood restaurants sit on the Pearl Street waterfront at the mouth of the Mystic River. Other restaurants are along Poquonnock Road and Kings Highway, and a brewery taproom is on Bridge Street. On a weekend, people walk the loop trail at Bluff Point, go to Eastern Point Beach or Esker Point Beach, tour the Submarine Force Museum or play golf at Shennecossett.

• Abbott's Lobster in the Rough. Seafood restaurant on the Noank waterfront, founded in 1947 and open seasonally; it serves no alcohol and guests may bring their own beer or wine.
• Costello's Clam Shack. Seasonal clam shack with covered outdoor seating at Noank Shipyard on Pearl Street, serving fresh and fried seafood.
• Paul's Pasta Shop. Fresh pasta shop and Italian restaurant on Thames Street in the City of Groton, overlooking the Thames River, in business since 1988.
• Chester's Barbecue. Barbecue restaurant on Poquonnock Road with dine-in seating, takeout and catering.
• Olio Restaurant and Bar. Restaurant and bar on Kings Highway serving American dishes, specialty drinks and wine.
• Outer Light Brewing Company. Craft brewery with a taproom on Bridge Street.

More places to eat: Restaurants in Groton on Tripadvisor.

Tax districts. A Groton property tax bill combines the Town of Groton rate, the rate for the property's fire district or subdivision, and the Groton Sewer District rate where it applies. The districts and subdivisions are the City of Groton, Poquonnock Bridge, Mystic, Noank, Old Mystic, Center Groton, West Pleasant Valley, Groton Long Point and Mumford Cove. Two similar homes on either side of a district line can carry different total bills. The Town publishes current rates, and the Groton market snapshot linked at the top of this page shows current prices and inventory.

Flood zones. Nearly all of Groton Long Point is in a flood zone, and low-lying shoreline in Noank, streets along the Mystic River and the areas around Mumford Cove and Palmer Cove are also subject to flooding. Flood insurance is required on government-backed mortgages for homes in high-risk zones, and most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. Buyers should check the FEMA flood map and get a quote before making an offer.

Sewer, zoning and older homes. The City of Groton runs its own sewer system, and the Town's sewer district covers the rest of Groton. Buyers should confirm whether an address is connected to sewer or uses a septic system. The City, Groton Long Point and Noank each have their own zoning commissions. Much of the housing in Noank and West Mystic dates from the 19th century, so a thorough inspection matters.

VA loans near the base. For eligible buyers, a VA-backed purchase loan can mean no down payment and no private mortgage insurance, and the buyer must live in the home.

Schools. Groton Public Schools serves the whole town, including the City of Groton. School information is available from the district. For school profiles from an independent source, see Groton School District on Niche.com.

Pricing a Groton home starts with a comparative market analysis that weighs it against recent sales nearby. Groton's buyer pool includes people relocating to the submarine base, Electric Boat and Pfizer, and some begin their search from outside the area, so professional photography, video and a 3D tour let them study a home before visiting. For homes near the water in Noank, Groton Long Point and Mystic, drone footage shows the lot and the shoreline.