Niantic, CT Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Niantic, Connecticut, is the shoreline village of the Town of East Lyme, on Niantic Bay and about 20 minutes from Naval Submarine Base New London. This guide covers the village and the beach communities around it, including Crescent Beach and Black Point: what it is like to live here, things to do, places to eat, and what to know before buying or selling a home.

Niantic is a village, not a municipality. It belongs to East Lyme, which provides its town government, tax bills, public schools and utilities. The village has its own ZIP code, 06357.

The village faces Niantic Bay, an arm of Long Island Sound. The tidal Niantic River, 5.2 miles long, separates it from Waterford to the east.

• Main Street. Route 156 is Main Street through the village center, and Route 161 starts from it as Pennsylvania Avenue.
• The bayfront. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor runs along the shore, and the Niantic Bay Boardwalk follows the tracks. Hole-in-the-Wall Beach is reached through a short tunnel under the railroad.
• The Bar. The strip of land that carries Route 156 and the railroad across the mouth of the river to Waterford. Amtrak opened a new drawbridge there in 2012.
• Crescent Beach. A private beach community just west of McCook Point, with its own association.
• Black Point and other associations. Black Point, Old Black Point, Attawan Beach, Oak Grove Beach, Pine Grove and Saunders Point are also in the Niantic area.
• Camp Nett. The Connecticut National Guard's Camp Nett at Niantic, on Smith Street, is the headquarters of the Connecticut Training Center.

Route 161 reaches Interstate 95 about 3 miles north of Main Street, and Route 156 leads east over the river to Waterford and west past Rocky Neck State Park.

East Lyme Parks and Recreation runs the village's beaches and boardwalk and lists the Niantic Light Parade among its annual events. A beach pass is required at the town beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

• Niantic Bay Boardwalk. About a mile of walkway along the bay, from the Niantic River inlet to Hole-in-the-Wall Beach. It is open at all hours, and dogs are not permitted.
• Hole-in-the-Wall Beach. A sand beach off Baptist Lane with a swimming area sheltered by a stone jetty, restrooms and an outdoor shower.
• McCook Point Park and Beach. A 21-acre park on a bluff above the bay with a beach, picnic pavilion, playground, bocce court and summer concerts.
• Cini Memorial Park and Niantic Bay Beach. At the boardwalk's east end, with its entrance on Route 156 just before the bridge to Waterford.
• Niantic Children's Museum. Hands-on exhibits for young children at 409 Main Street.
• Marinas and boat launch. Port Niantic and Three Belles Marina have slips on the Niantic River, and the state launch for trailered boats is just across the Route 156 bridge in Waterford.

More ideas: Things to do in Niantic on Tripadvisor.

Niantic's restaurants, cafes and shops line Main Street (Route 156) and nearby Pennsylvania Avenue, beside Niantic Bay. The Niantic Bay Boardwalk follows the shore, with a town beach at each end. The Niantic Farmers Market sets up in the Methodist Street parking lot on Thursday afternoons from June into October. The Book Barn, a large used book shop, and the Niantic Children's Museum are in the village, and a fishing party boat sails from Cini Park. A weekend can include the boardwalk, a beach and a meal on Main Street.

• The Black Sheep. Irish pub and restaurant on Main Street with a street-side patio.
• Skipper's Seafood Restaurant. Seafood restaurant on Main Street serving lobster rolls, fried seafood and Greek dishes, with seating that looks over the bay.
• Constantine's on the Bay. American restaurant on Main Street serving lunch and dinner.
• Sift Bake Shop. French-style bakery on Main Street, with sister shops in Mystic, Watch Hill and Mohegan Sun.
• La Belle Aurore. Farm-to-table bistro on Pennsylvania Avenue with a menu built on local ingredients.
• 374 Kitchen & Cocktails. Comfort food and cocktail restaurant on Main Street.

More places to eat: Restaurants in Niantic on Tripadvisor.

Town and association taxes. Property in Niantic is taxed by the Town of East Lyme. In several beach communities the association is also a taxing district that issues a bill of its own. Black Point Beach Club Association, for example, sets a mill rate each spring and spends the money on beach cleaning, grounds, utilities, insurance and capital improvements. Ask to see the latest association bill and rules for any property inside one.

Beach rights. The town beaches require a seasonal pass from East Lyme Parks and Recreation in summer. Association beaches such as Crescent Beach are private, so buyers should confirm in writing which beach rights come with a property.

Flood zones. Atlantic Street, where McCook Point Park is located, and the east and west shores of Black Point are among the places where the regional hazard plan records the most coastal flood damage. Lenders require flood insurance on government-backed mortgages in high-risk zones, and most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, so a quote belongs at the start of the search.

Sewer and water. Town sewer covers the Route 156 corridor and the area south of it, which takes in the village center, and the sewage is pumped through Waterford to New London for treatment. Confirm the connection for any address, particularly in the beach communities.

Seasonal cottages. A cottage built for summer may need heating, insulation or plumbing work before it suits year-round use.

Financing. The submarine base in Groton is about 20 minutes away by Interstate 95, and eligible buyers can use a VA-backed loan, which requires the buyer to live in the home.

Schools. Niantic is served by East Lyme Public Schools. Students from Niantic Center School go on to East Lyme Middle School and East Lyme High School. School information is available from the district. For school profiles from an independent source, see East Lyme School District on Niche.com.

Pricing a Niantic home starts with a comparative market analysis of recent village sales, looking at how far the home is from the bay and Main Street, whether it belongs to a beach association and whether it is set up for year-round living. The buyer pool includes people looking for a second home near the water and people moving to the area for work in Groton and New London, and some see the home online first. Professional photography, video and a 3D tour show the rooms, while drone footage shows the route to the beach or the view over Niantic Bay.