Barkhamsted, a pastoral community
Barkhamsted is a rural community 27 miles northwest of Hartford. Residents enjoy access to state parks, a bass-stocked reservoir, a winding river, wooded trails and other natural amenities. “People used to want to be on tiny lots and close to everything. After Covid, people realized they could work from home; and Barkhamsted became super important because it allowed people to work from home and have their peace and quiet,” says Mary New, who sells houses in the neighborhood with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Residents shop, dine and enjoy entertainment in the neighboring communities of Winsted and New Hartford. Mary New has lived in New Hartford for over 50 years.
A diverse single-family home selection
Most houses range in price from $325,000 to $625,000. Homebuyers can purchase early 19th-century New England-style farmhouses for between $320,000 to $400,000. An early 2000s contemporary-style three-bedroom house sells for between $340,000 and $390,000. Assessors value Modern Farmhouses on about two acres of land for between $620,000 and $670,000. Cape Cods from the 1940s and 50s sell for between $240,000 and $280,000. Late 20th-century Colonial Revival-style houses are valued between $480,000 and $530,000. “Home prices in Barkhamsted have appreciated in line with the rest of the country,” New says.
Moderately and highly rated public schools
Children attend Barkhamsted Elementary School, which has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a B-plus Niche rating. Pearson Middle School students are 42% proficient in math and 47% in reading. The school has a B-minus Niche rating. Northwest Regional High School has an A-minus Niche rating and a 95% graduation rate. The school offers a range of agricultural courses, such as companion animal science, floral design and wildlife management.
A state park, a reservoir and a lake
The 3,059-acre Peoples State Forest is located within Barkhamsted. The forest has about 10 miles of hiking trails, and residents use the park for hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Residents can embark on the 38.5-mile Tunxis Trail, which crosses the western ridge of the central Connecticut Valley. Residents fish for bass in the Barkhamsted Reservoir. Folks take kayaks, canoes and motorized boats out on Lake McDonough. “Stanclift Cove is the town beach. It has dressing rooms, bathrooms and outdoor barbecue areas,” New says. The 47-mile Farmington River passes through the community, and some residents paddle down it. “People relax on benches and picnic tables along the Farmington River,” New says. Locals fly fish for trout in the river as well. In the winter, people hit the powdery slopes of Ski Sundown on the community’s southeast corner.
Local restaurants and big-box retail
Pleasant Valley is Barkhamsted’s dining hub. Residents stop by the Log House’s lunch counter to order omelets, Belgian waffles or burgers. Bikers stop by the Brass Horse Cafe to chow on prime rib, shoot billiards and listen to live music. There are more options in Winsted. Mario’s Tuscany Grill & Bar serves fresh Italian food. On warm nights, patrons drink wine on its brick patio. Simple Delights Bakery prepares fresh sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls in-house. Winsted also has a McDonald’s. People shop for general home merchandise at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Folks travel to New Hartford for slices at Pizza Pete’s and coffee at Dunkin’. Residents buy most of their groceries at the Stop & Shop in Winsted. In Torringford, 8 miles southwest, there are chain retail options like Walmart, Michaels, Target and BJ’s.
A drive-in theater and more
Residents catch blockbuster releases, arthouse films and Hollywood classics at Gilson Café & Cinema in Winsted. The building was originally constructed as a vaudeville theater in 1926 and still maintains its classic vibe. The café serves dishes like cheesy garlic bread and clam chowder and beverages like fruit punch and cappuccinos. Locals spend summer evenings at Pleasant Valley Drive-In watching the screen light up beyond their dashboards. New Hartford’s Beekley Library hosts a summer concert series of local musicians. Folks travel to Hartford to see works by artists like Salvador Dali, Claude Monet and Mark Rothko at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Getting around Barkhamsted and beyond
Barkhamsted is mainly automobile-reliant. Residents travel 27 miles southeast to Downtown Hartford via Connecticut Route 20 and Interstate 91. New Haven is 65 miles southeast via Interstate 91. Waterbury is 37 miles southwest via Connecticut Route 8. Residents can pay $1 to take the bus from the New Hartford Post Office to Hartford. For more extensive trips, residents travel 15 miles east to Bradley International Airport.
Written By
William Palicia
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Schulman
