Rural Connecticut town rich in farmland and nature
Surrounded by expansive parks and densely wooded forests that blanket Northeastern Connecticut, Eastford offers a rural lifestyle 36 miles from Hartford. The town is favored for its rich farmland, natural scenery and easy access to outdoor recreation, including proximity to Crystal Pond Park and the Natchaug State Forest — an expansive tract that hums with a chorus of peeper frogs in the spring and turns to a warm tapestry of orange and yellow in the fall. “People move there because they really enjoy the town's rural character,” says real estate agent Betsy Diquattro with Johnston and Associates Real Estate, who grew up in the area and has worked in real estate for 11 years. “Many families live there generation after generation.” Eastford’s small collection of town offices and supply stores anchored along State Route 198 support its small-town feel, and nearby towns like Willimantic and Putnam supply residents with additional conveniences for shopping and dining. Additionally, Eastford has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Outdoor recreation in Windham County’s rural landscape
The towering beech, sugar maple and hickory trees of the Natchaug State Forest span Eastford’s southern portion, expanding over 13,000 acres into bordering communities of Chaplin and Hampton. The woodland serves as a major attraction for outdoor recreation. Several multi-use trails snake throughout the forest, often used for walking and horseback riding. Anglers set up alongside the frequently stocked Natchaug River, and hunters equipped with bow and arrows are permitted on-site during hunting season. Crystal Pond Park borders Eastford and has docks for year-round swimming and fishing. Kayaks, canoes and other nonmotorized boats are permitted on the lake. Those preferring to stay inland take to the hiking trails or play disc golf on the park’s 18-hole course. While the nearby Yale-Myers Forest spans 7,840 acres, the 5-mile Yale-Myers Forest Blue Blazed Nipmuck Loop Trail is the only public-use area within the forest.
Traditional vernacular home styles on larger lots
The rural nature of the town creates properties nestled on farmland or at the end of long roadways. With a median lot size of 2 acres, houses sit further apart, offering privacy and space from neighbors. Residential architecture favors vernacular styles, with Cape Cods, saltbox, and Colonial Revival examples most common. Other homes feature minimalistic traditional or farmhouse styles. Single-family homes typically range from $250,000 to $725,000. Parcels of land are also available for purchase, allowing opportunities for custom builds.
A one-school district with high school choice
Due to the town’s small size, only one public grade school serves Eastford. With a B-plus grade from Niche, Eastford Elementary School teaches prekindergarten through eighth-grade students. Woodstock Academy is the designated secondary school for Eastford kids. The A-minus-rated private school serves ninth through twelfth grades and offers a robust curriculum, which includes Advanced Placement classes and an Early College Experience program through the University of Connecticut. Since Eastford does not have its own high school, the municipality covers student tuition.
Events at the public library and town history at the Eastford Museum
The Eastford Public Library has year-round events, including storytimes and book clubs. It also hosts a Maker’s Night on the second Wednesday of every month, where teens and adults can work on art projects. Those interested in town history may learn more about Eastford at the Florence Warren Lantham Museum of Eastford History, open from May to October on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.
Wineries, eateries and groceries outside Eastford
While a Dollar General fulfills necessities in town, most residents head to neighboring communities for shopping and dining. The nearby Taylor Brooke Winery is set on a 44-acre farm and allows guests to bring their own food, though there is also a food truck schedule. Grocery options in Willimantic, 16 miles south, include Stop & Shop and BJ’s Wholesale Club. The Stomping Ground in Putnam, 10 miles away, hosts live music and serves bar food and beer. More shopping and dining is available in Storrs, 13 miles west, near the University of Connecticut, and in Killingly Commons, a shopping mall in Dayville, 13 miles east.
Major thoroughfares and other noteworthy establishments
Commuters take Interstate 84 to reach Hartford or head east along U.S. Route 44 to Providence, 42 miles away. Boston is 76 miles east on Interstate 90. “Even though you're in a country setting, it is not that far to go to other places,” says Diquattro. “If you’re looking beyond Providence, Hartford and Boston are not that far from Eastford because it is in the northeast corner, so you’re about an hour to Hartford and Providence and an hour and a half to Boston. That’s the advantage of living in the country -- you’re very close to those cities.” Johnson Memorial Hospital is 20 miles west, and the Hartford-Brainard Airport is 38 miles west along Interstate 84. Houses of worship such as Living Proof Church, Congregational Church-Eastford and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are along U.S. Route 44 and state Route 198.
Dawn Mikuláštík Gagliardi, Esq. joined the Corrado Group from New York City where she had a successful career as a Medical Malpractice attorney. In addition to helping people buy and sell their homes, she is an Adjunct Professor of Negotiating, Counseling, and Interviewing at New York Law School.
Dawn brings an array of real-life business experience to the table to help her clients navigate the unique Connecticut housing market and is a fierce negotiator and zealous advocate for her clients. Dawn is dedicated to customer service and goes beyond to make every real estate transaction as easy and stress-free as possible for her clients.
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