East Chelmsford
A small New England town and classic frozen treats at Chelmsford Creamery
East Chelmsford comprises only a small section of its namesake town. About 3 miles to its west, the steeple atop First Parish Unitarian Church stands as the tallest landmark downtown. This district includes a small commercial hub with a green triangular park, a community arts center and a few restaurants, shops and offices in low-slung brick and Colonial-style buildings. On Route 3A, the rural two-lane highway serving as the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, Chelmsford Creamery has drawn visitors for over half a century. Surrounded by an asphalt parking lot on an old 19th-century family farmstead, the first iteration of the creamery opened in 1957. In the summer and warmer weather months today, residents still walk over to enjoy scoops of ice cream that come in more than two dozen flavors. About a mile down the road, folks can stop at Java’s Brewin’ for a cup of coffee with a savory breakfast sandwich or a large blueberry muffin before heading to work or running some errands. Residents can pick up groceries at Market Basket, Stop and Shop and Target Grocery, all located close to one another in the Route 3 corridor.
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A mix of vintage and modern New England-style homes
While the town dates back to the mid-1600s, most of the homes in East Chelmsford today were built at the edges of modern memory. Along the community’s winding streets, midcentury Colonial Revivals and Cape Cods are influenced by New England’s architectural heritage. Even newer townhouses and modern custom-builds share similar characteristics: bay windows, painted shutters and symmetrical layouts. Cluttered collections of toys on the lawns betray which houses enjoy the favor of neighborhood children. The community’s most expensive homes, spanning about 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, range from about $600,000 to $800,000. But with the typical single-family home averaging 1,800 square feet – about 200 feet smaller than the national average – buyers don’t need to spend nearly as much. “Usually the homes are a little smaller here, so the price points are a little bit better,” Ludwig says. Prices for a modest home with Craftsman features from the early 1920s, a split-level house from the 1970s or a 1,000-square-foot townhouse can all price from around $300,000 to over $500,000.
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High-ranking schools in Chelmsford
Students in the community generally attend Center Elementary, which earns an A-minus from Niche. From there, students can advance to McCarthy Middle School, which has an A-minus rating, and Chelmsford High School, which scores an A. McCarthy Middle offers a state-of-the-art fitness center for use by students and staff, while the Chelmsford High Theatre Guild has earned many regional accolades. The program took home six prizes at Mount Wachusett Community College’s annual Theatre at the Mount (TAMY) awards ceremony, which has celebrated exemplary achievements in area high school theaters for over 15 years.Community playgrounds and ice skating at the Chelmsford Forum
Harmony Park is the community’s central outdoor recreational space. This small neighborhood park features a baseball field and a playground with a webbed climbing wall, a bouncy swing attached to bungee cords and a balance beam fashioned from rope. South of the neighborhood near the interchange with the Northwest Expressway, locals take to the ice at the Chelmsford Forum, an indoor community skating rink with seasonal open skate hours. On select days of the week, the Forum hosts open hockey practice and recreational league games. About a mile or two south in the town of Billerica, residents go on short hikes along the one-mile loop trail at Warren H. Manning State Forest. In addition to its nature trail and the fitness stations along some of its paths, the park includes a section of picnic tables and grills and a small playground with water features that keep kids cool in the summer.
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Commuting to Boston or Lowell by car or public transit
People living in East Chelmsford have a straightforward trek to Lowell or Boston, thanks to the neighborhood’s proximity to both I-495 and Route 3. Residents can hop on either highway to reach the state capital about 25 miles away. Alternatively, commuters can also take a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority train to the city from Lowell or the North Billerica station about 2 miles south of the community. The town of Chelmsford attracts a lot of Boston commuters, Ludwig says, but locals can have an even shorter commute into Lowell. On Route 3A, folks can drive downtown or board a Lowell Regional Transit Authority bus from the neighborhood.Winter, spring, summer and fall festivities on Chelmsford Common
Chelmsford’s small-town atmosphere is supplemented by the annual holiday celebrations, points of pride for the community that bring neighbors together at various points of the year. Vendors line the Chelmsford Common for the Independence Day Parade and Country Fair. The 4th of July also brings an art festival to the Center for the Arts, where folks can browse the work of local craftsmen. The Market on the Common takes place every weekend from late May to early October, when the Fall Festival and the Halloween festivities enter full swing. The town closes out the calendar year with its Holiday Prelude and Tree Lighting Ceremony, a traditional New England winter market complete with live Christmas carols, free hot cocoa and children lining up to take pictures with Santa Claus.
Written By
Hugh Taylor
Photography Contributed By
Todd Beltz
Video By
Dan Mack
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Shannon Forsythe
Shannon Forsythe
Responds QuicklyCentury 21 Your Way
(781) 661-5343
100 Total Sales
1 in East Chelmsford
$832,000 Price
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Mike Hughes
Mike Hughes
eXp Realty
(857) 858-3806
61 Total Sales
1 in East Chelmsford
$575,000 Price
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Michelle St. Michael
Michelle St. Michael
Responds QuicklyRhodes Realty Advisors, Inc.
(351) 300-0467
75 Total Sales
1 in East Chelmsford
$483,125 Price
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Sheena Santos
Sheena Santos
Responds QuicklyBarrett Sotheby's International Realty
(781) 653-7394
89 Total Sales
1 in East Chelmsford
$530,000 Price
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Emily Medwar
Emily Medwar
Responds QuicklyBarrett Sotheby's International Realty
(351) 666-8265
99 Total Sales
1 in East Chelmsford
$530,000 Price
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Janet Wu Cook
Janet Wu Cook
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Elite
(774) 290-5505
132 Total Sales
1 in East Chelmsford
$840,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 11th
- Public
- K to 4th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Harmony Park
Ducharme Park
Warren H Manning State Park
Muldoon Park
Father Kirwin Playground
Henry S Perham Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | East Chelmsford | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
East Chelmsford Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in East Chelmsford, Chelmsford sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in East Chelmsford, Chelmsford over the last 12 months is $395,000, down 17% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$415,000
Median Sale Price
$395,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$395,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$335,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
15
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-17%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$306
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
461
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1957
Months of Supply
3.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,804
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,762
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,038
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
710
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
20,473
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,906
Median Age
39
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$138,775
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$167,801
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
88%
College Graduates
50.6%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.7%
% Population in Labor Force
74.2%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
18°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
20''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
28
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
7
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Golden Triangle
Commercially dense suburb with next-door access to I-495
South Lowell
Lowell neighborhood with commuter access and multifamily living
Westlands
A cozy quiet suburb near Chelmsford and Lowell
Kings Grant-Russell Mill
A peaceful retreat in Chelmsford
Roberts Ranches
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Sacred Heart
Residential neighborhood on the Concord River in Massachusetts
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