Bridgeport CT mill rate: what you actually pay and how to fight it

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the Bridgeport CT mill rate right now?

Bridgeport's mill rate for the 2023 grand list (fiscal year 2024-2025) is 53.99 mills. ^[1] The City Council sets that number each spring when it adopts the budget, and it moves every year.

One mill equals $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value. So if your home is assessed at $150,000, you multiply $150,000 by 0.05399 and get $8,098.50 in annual property tax before any exemptions. That math is identical in every Connecticut town.

Bridgeport sits in the top three highest mill rates in the state. The average mill rate across Connecticut towns runs roughly 27 to 28 mills, per the Office of Policy and Management's annual mill rate data. ^[2] Bridgeport runs nearly double that. That is why homeowners there feel the burden so sharply, even though their appraised values trail wealthy Fairfield County towns like Westport or Greenwich.

The rate shifts annually. Bridgeport's mill rate was 54.37 in the prior year and 53.99 on the 2023 grand list. Roughly flat over three years. That is cold comfort when the starting point is this high.

How does Connecticut's assessment system actually work?

Connecticut law sets assessed value at 70% of fair market value. ^[3] That figure is the assessment ratio, fixed statewide under Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-62a. Every town uses it. No exceptions.

So if a Bridgeport assessor decides your home has a fair market value of $200,000, the assessed value on your bill is $140,000. Your tax is calculated on the $140,000.

The "grand list" is the official record of all taxable property in a town as of October 1 each year. That October 1 date is the assessment date. Whatever your property was worth on October 1 is what drives that year's tax bill, even if the market swings before you pay.

Bridgeport runs full revaluations on a state schedule, currently every five years, though towns can do them sooner. ^[4] Bridgeport's most recent revaluation took effect October 1, 2020. The next was scheduled for October 1, 2025. Between revaluations, your assessed value is generally frozen unless you add to the property or the assessor makes a specific correction.

That five-year gap is where problems hide. If values dropped after a revaluation, your assessed number can sit higher than 70% of what your home would actually sell for today. That is overpayment, and it is fixable.

How does Bridgeport's mill rate compare to other Connecticut cities?

Bridgeport sits near the top of a very expensive list. Here is how major Connecticut municipalities compared on the 2023 grand list (fiscal year 2024-2025): ^[2]

Municipality	Mill Rate (2023 GL)
Hartford	68.95
Waterbury	60.21
Bridgeport	53.99
New Haven	43.88
Danbury	27.60
Stamford	25.68
Greenwich	11.28
Connecticut avg	~27-28

The Danbury CT mill rate at 27.60 mills is almost exactly half of Bridgeport's. ^[2] A home assessed at $150,000 in Danbury carries a tax bill around $4,140. The same assessed value in Bridgeport costs $8,099. The gap comes from differences in the taxable base, commercial ratables, and the debt load each city carries.

The mill rate Danbury CT homeowners pay also gains from Danbury's larger commercial and industrial base, which spreads the burden across more property types. Bridgeport has chased commercial development for years precisely to pull its residential rate down. Progress has been slow.

Greenwich at 11.28 mills looks almost unreal next to the rest. That low rate reflects sky-high property values (a massive base) and modest city spending per resident. The takeaway: the mill rate alone does not tell you your bill. You need the assessed value too.

Why is Bridgeport's mill rate so high compared to surrounding towns?

Three structural forces drive Bridgeport's mill rate.

The taxable base is compressed. A big share of Bridgeport's land belongs to tax-exempt entities: nonprofit hospitals, universities, government properties, and religious organizations. Those parcels contribute nothing to the grand list but still demand city services. Connecticut offers PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) money to help offset state-owned and certain nonprofit-owned exempt property, but it has historically covered only a slice of the lost revenue. ^[5]

Second, Bridgeport carries a heavy bonded debt load relative to its base. Servicing that debt alone pushes the rate up.

Third, the city's median household income sits below suburban Fairfield County towns, so it leans hard on property tax rather than any locally generated income or wealth tax. Connecticut has no local income tax.

None of that lowers your bill. But it tells you the mill rate itself is mostly outside your control as one homeowner. The lever you do have is your assessed value. If that number is wrong, you can challenge it.

How do you calculate your Bridgeport property tax bill?

The formula is short.

Step 1: Find your assessed value on the Bridgeport Assessor's property lookup. ^[6] This is 70% of the assessor's estimate of fair market value as of October 1 of the grand list year.

Step 2: Multiply your assessed value by the current mill rate as a decimal. For 2024-2025, that is 0.05399.

Step 3: Subtract any exemptions you qualify for (see the next section).

Example: a home with a fair market value estimate of $250,000.

• Assessed value: $250,000 x 0.70 = $175,000
• Gross tax: $175,000 x 0.05399 = $9,448.25
• With a $1,000 assessment reduction under the veterans' exemption, the net bill drops to roughly $9,394.

Motor vehicles work differently. Connecticut caps the motor vehicle mill rate at 32.46 mills statewide for vehicles on the October 1 grand list. ^[3] That cap is written into statute, so even though Bridgeport's real property rate is 53.99, your car is taxed at a lower rate.

Bridgeport property tax bills usually split into two installments, due July 1 and January 1. If the total bill is under $100, the full amount is due July 1.

What Connecticut property tax exemptions can reduce your Bridgeport bill?

Connecticut offers several exemptions that shave your assessed value before the mill rate applies. These are the ones homeowners use most. ^[3]

Homeowner/homestead exemption (municipal option): Bridgeport offers a local homeowner exemption. Check with the Bridgeport Assessor's Office for the current benefit amount and deadline, typically April 15 following the October 1 assessment date.

Veterans' exemption: Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81 provides a base exemption off assessed value ($1,000 for wartime service, with larger amounts tied to disability ratings). Some qualifying veterans receive much bigger reductions. Applications are due October 1 of the assessment year.

Totally disabled person exemption: Qualifying individuals can receive a $1,000 reduction in assessed value.

Elderly and disabled circuit breaker (Sec. 12-170aa): This is the biggest state-level relief for lower-income seniors. Homeowners 65 or older (or under 65 and permanently disabled) with household income below set thresholds receive a credit against the tax bill, which beats a plain assessment cut. Limits adjust periodically. As of 2024, the maximum household income was $49,100 for married filers and $40,300 for single filers. ^[7] File with the Assessor between February 1 and May 15.

Local Bridgeport programs: Bridgeport has run local supplemental relief too. Call the Assessor's Office at (203) 576-7241 to confirm what is active now.

Do not assume you already have every exemption you qualify for. Plenty of homeowners miss the veterans' benefit entirely because no one told them to apply.

How do you appeal your Bridgeport property assessment?

If you believe your assessed value is higher than 70% of what your home would actually sell for, you have a legal right to challenge it. Connecticut's process runs in strict, sequential steps.

Step 1: File with the Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA)

The BAA is your first mandatory stop. In Bridgeport, file a written appeal application with the City Assessor's Office no later than February 20 following the October 1 assessment date. ^[4] If February 20 lands on a weekend, the deadline shifts to the next business day. Miss it and you cannot proceed. Full stop.

Your hearing before the BAA usually happens in March. The board has until the end of the statutory period following March 1 to issue its decision.

Step 2: Appeal to Superior Court (if the BAA rules against you)

If the BAA denies your appeal or does not cut enough, you can appeal to Connecticut Superior Court within two months of the date the BAA mails its decision. ^[3] This is where an attorney usually enters, because Superior Court means formal pleadings and discovery. Most homeowners settle at the BAA level.

What evidence wins at the BAA?

Recent comparable sales ("comps") are the strongest evidence. You want closed sales of similar Bridgeport homes within the six to twelve months before October 1 of the grand list year. If those comps show your home's market value is lower than the assessor assumed, your assessed value should come down proportionally.

A licensed appraisal is the gold standard. It runs $400 to $700 in most cases. For many Bridgeport homeowners, the potential savings cover that cost easily. You can also build your own comp analysis from public records at the City Clerk's office or from Zillow, Redfin, or the state's conveyance data. ^[6]

If you want to skip a contingency firm that eats 30 to 40% of your savings, the TaxFightBack appeal kit walks you through building a comp packet that meets Connecticut BAA standards.

Inspection option: Under Connecticut law you can ask the assessor to physically inspect your property before the BAA hearing. Sometimes an error on the property record card (wrong square footage, wrong condition rating, a finished basement that is actually unfinished) inflates the value and corrects easily without a full fight.

When are the key Bridgeport property tax deadlines?

Deadlines in Connecticut property tax law are hard cutoffs. There is no grace period at the BAA.

Event	Date
Assessment date (grand list)	October 1
BAA appeal application deadline	February 20
BAA hearings typically begin	March
Superior Court appeal deadline	2 months after BAA decision mailing
Elderly/disabled circuit breaker filing	February 1 through May 15
Veterans' exemption application	October 1
First tax installment due	July 1
Second tax installment due	January 1

Miss the February 20 BAA deadline and your only remaining path is a direct Superior Court action under CGS Section 12-119 (a claim of manifestly excessive assessment). That is a higher legal bar and genuinely needs an attorney. ^[10] Do not let February 20 slip.

Bridgeport also sends supplemental bills when major improvements get added to a property mid-year, due October 1 for additions completed between October 2 of the prior year and July 31 of the current year.

What is Bridgeport's revaluation schedule and how does it affect you?

Connecticut requires full revaluations at least every five years under CGS Section 12-62. ^[4] Bridgeport's last revaluation took effect October 1, 2020.

The next full revaluation was scheduled for October 1, 2025. When a revaluation hits, assessed values reset to 70% of current market value, and the mill rate almost always drops to offset the higher values. The total levy (dollars collected citywide) is supposed to stay roughly flat even as individual bills shift.

Revaluations create winners and losers. If your neighborhood appreciated faster than the city average between 2020 and 2025, your assessment jumps more than average, and your bill likely rises even with a lower mill rate. If your neighborhood lagged, you might see relief.

The 2025 revaluation values first show up on tax bills due July 1, 2026. Appeals of those new values are due February 20, 2026. Read your assessment notice carefully in late 2025. That is when most bad values are easiest to catch and correct.

How does the Bridgeport mill rate affect commercial property owners?

Bridgeport has no split tax rate. There is no separate, higher rate for commercial property the way some states allow. All real property, residential and commercial, faces the same 53.99 mill rate applied to 70% of appraised value. ^[1]

That matters for commercial owners because commercial assessments often rest on the income approach (capitalized net operating income) rather than comparable sales. If the assessor uses a cap rate that is too low or overstates your gross rents, the income-approach value comes out inflated. The appeal path is the same, BAA first then Superior Court, but the evidence differs: rent rolls, lease abstracts, vacancy data, and a professional appraisal usually carry the case.

For a sense of how other high-rate urban markets handle commercial appeals, the process in Los Angeles County and Cook County follows similar income-approach logic, though the specific procedures differ.

Personal property (business equipment, fixtures, computers) is also taxable in Connecticut at the full mill rate. Personal property declarations are due November 1 each year with the Bridgeport Assessor's Office.

What do homeowners most often get wrong about the Bridgeport mill rate?

A handful of misconceptions come up constantly.

Confusing the mill rate with the tax rate. The mill rate is not a percentage of your home's value. 53.99 mills is 5.399%, but only on your assessed value (70% of market value). The effective rate as a share of market value is 53.99 x 0.70 / 1,000 = 3.78%. That effective rate is what you should compare across states.

Assuming the mill rate is the only variable. Two identical houses assessed differently pay different taxes at the same mill rate. Challenging your assessment is the one lever you hold as an individual.

Thinking appeals are only for wealthy owners. The BAA process in Connecticut is free, and you can represent yourself. No attorney required for the hearing. Plenty of Bridgeport homeowners win on their own with a tight comp packet.

Waiting too long. February 20 is firm. People who discover the error in March are out of options until next year.

Ignoring the property record card. The assessor's database holds a record card for your property with square footage, bedroom count, condition grade, and more. Errors there directly inflate your assessment. Request a copy from the Assessor's Office before you do anything else. It is a public record.

If you want a structured way to run the appeal, the TaxFightBack appeal kit covers the Connecticut BAA process specifically, including how to pull and format comparable sales so they land with the board.

How does Bridgeport's mill rate compare to similar high-tax urban markets nationally?

Bridgeport's effective property tax rate (the mill rate applied to assessed value, expressed as a share of market value) runs around 3.78%. That is high by national standards.

For comparison, Maricopa County in Arizona has an effective residential rate under 1%. San Diego owners pay roughly 1.1 to 1.2% effective. Even Lake County, Illinois, known for steep Illinois taxes, typically lands at 2.5 to 3.5% effective.

Connecticut carries some of the heaviest property tax burdens in the country. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, which tracks this across all 50 states, puts Connecticut's effective rate on owner-occupied housing near the top of the national range. ^[8]

Here is what that means in dollars. If your Bridgeport home is overassessed by $20,000 in market-value terms, the assessed-value overstatement is $14,000 (70% of $20,000), and the annual tax overcharge is $756 ($14,000 x 0.05399). Over three years before the next revaluation, that is more than $2,200. Worth fighting.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Bridgeport CT mill rate for 2024?

Bridgeport's mill rate for the 2023 grand list, which funds fiscal year 2024-2025, is 53.99 mills. That is $53.99 in tax per $1,000 of assessed value. Assessed value in Connecticut is 70% of appraised market value, so the effective rate relative to market value is about 3.78%.

How does the Bridgeport mill rate compare to the Danbury CT mill rate?

The Danbury mill rate is 27.60 mills for the 2023 grand list, roughly half of Bridgeport's 53.99. On a home with the same assessed value, a Bridgeport owner pays nearly twice what a Danbury owner pays. Danbury benefits from a broader commercial tax base and lower per-capita debt, both of which allow a lower residential rate.

Why is Bridgeport's property tax rate so much higher than other Fairfield County towns?

Three main reasons: a large share of Bridgeport's land is held by tax-exempt nonprofits, hospitals, and government entities; the city carries significant bonded debt; and its taxable base per resident is smaller than wealthy suburbs like Greenwich or Westport. All of it pushes the mill rate up to fund city services.

When is the deadline to appeal a Bridgeport property assessment?

The Board of Assessment Appeals application must be filed by February 20 following the October 1 assessment date. No grace period. If you miss it, your practical options narrow to a Superior Court claim under CGS Section 12-119, which requires proving a manifestly excessive assessment and is a much harder standard.

What evidence do I need to appeal my Bridgeport assessment?

Comparable sales are the most effective evidence: recent closed sales of similar Bridgeport homes within six to twelve months of the October 1 assessment date. A licensed appraisal ($400-$700 typically) is the strongest form, but a well-organized self-prepared comp analysis also works. Request and review your assessor property record card for factual errors like wrong square footage or condition rating.

Does Bridgeport have a senior property tax exemption?

Yes. Connecticut's elderly and disabled circuit breaker program (CGS Section 12-170aa) gives a tax credit to homeowners 65 or older (or permanently disabled under 65) with household income below set thresholds, which were $49,100 for married filers and $40,300 for single filers as of 2024. File with the Bridgeport Assessor between February 1 and May 15.

How is my Bridgeport property tax bill calculated?

Multiply your assessed value (70% of the assessor's estimated market value) by 0.05399 (the mill rate as a decimal). The result is your gross tax bill before exemptions. Bills split into two installments due July 1 and January 1. If the total is under $100, full payment is due July 1.

When does Bridgeport do a property revaluation?

Connecticut law requires full revaluations at least every five years. Bridgeport's last revaluation took effect October 1, 2020. The next was scheduled for October 1, 2025. After a revaluation, assessed values reset and the mill rate typically drops, but individual bills shift based on how your neighborhood performed against the city average.

Is the motor vehicle mill rate in Bridgeport the same as the real property mill rate?

No. Connecticut state law caps the motor vehicle mill rate at 32.46 mills statewide, regardless of a town's real property rate. So even though Bridgeport's real property rate is 53.99 mills, your car is taxed at 32.46 mills applied to 70% of its average retail value as of October 1.

Can I appeal my Bridgeport assessment without a lawyer?

Yes. The Board of Assessment Appeals is built for self-represented homeowners. You file the application, show up at your scheduled hearing, and present your evidence. Most homeowners who win at the BAA level do it with comparable sales they gathered themselves. An attorney only becomes necessary if you escalate to Superior Court.

What is the mill rate Danbury CT homeowners pay on motor vehicles?

Like every Connecticut town, Danbury is subject to the statewide 32.46-mill cap on motor vehicle taxation. Danbury and Bridgeport residents pay the same rate on their cars despite the large gap in their real property mill rates. The vehicle's assessed value (70% of average retail) is the variable that changes your actual bill.

Where do I find Bridgeport property assessment records?

The Bridgeport Assessor's Office maintains an online property search on the City of Bridgeport website. You can look up assessed values, property record card data, and ownership by address or parcel number. The City Clerk's office also holds recorded deed and conveyance data useful for finding comparable sales.

What happens if the Board of Assessment Appeals denies my Bridgeport appeal?

You have two months from the date the BAA mails its decision to file an appeal in Connecticut Superior Court. Superior Court appeals are more formal, usually require counsel, and can involve discovery and expert testimony. Most homeowners resolve at the BAA level; Superior Court is a real option but adds cost and time.

How much can I realistically save by appealing my Bridgeport assessment?

It depends on how far off the assessment is. A $20,000 market-value overestimate translates to a $14,000 assessed-value reduction and roughly $756 in annual tax savings at 53.99 mills. Over three years between revaluations, that is over $2,200. Larger overestimates produce proportionally larger savings, which is why the appeal is worth the time even for modest corrections.

Sources

1. City of Bridgeport, CT - official municipal website (Assessor's Office and current mill rate): Bridgeport's mill rate for the 2023 grand list is 53.99 mills
2. Connecticut Office of Policy and Management - Mill Rates data page: Comparative mill rates for Connecticut municipalities including Hartford, Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Haven, Danbury, Stamford, and Greenwich for the 2023 grand list
3. Connecticut Office of Policy and Management - Intergovernmental Policy and Planning Division (property tax and municipal assessor resources): Connecticut requires full revaluations at least every five years under CGS 12-62; Board of Assessment Appeals filing deadline of February 20
4. Connecticut Office of Policy and Management - PILOT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) program: Connecticut provides PILOT reimbursement to municipalities for state-owned and certain nonprofit-owned exempt property, historically covering only a portion of lost tax revenue
5. City of Bridgeport, CT - official municipal website (Assessor property search): Bridgeport Assessor's Office maintains an online property lookup for assessed values and property record card data
6. Connecticut Department of Revenue Services - Property Tax Credit information: Elderly and disabled circuit breaker income thresholds for 2024: $49,100 for married filers, $40,300 for single filers; application period February 1 through May 15
7. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy - Significant Features of the Property Tax: Connecticut's effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing consistently ranks near the top of the national range
8. Connecticut Office of Policy and Management - grand list and assessment date guidance: Connecticut grand list assessment date is October 1 each year; personal property declarations due November 1