$525,952Average Value$168Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Hartford neighborhood with literary and academic history
Politician Francis Gillette and abolitionist John Hooker established Hartford's West End neighborhood in 1853 as "Nook Farm," a 140-acre plot on the "nook" of the Park River. The area quickly gained attention, attracting prominent literary figures like Harriet Beecher Stowe, who penned "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Mark Twain, writer of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and Sinclair Lewis, the first U.S. author to win the Nobel Prize in literature. "Nook farm was the first interesting anchor in western Hartford," says Brett Freiburger, local history librarian at the West Hartford Public Library. "All these big names in Connecticut history — Hartford movers and shakers, and religious and literary trendsetters — were in this area."
Today, Hartford's West End is a diverse community that still has a deeply intellectual overtone. "Writers continue to be there," Freiburger says. "If you live in the West End, you are going to experience a level of multiculturalism that you don't really get nowadays." Home to the University of Connecticut's law school and Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, the neighborhood is largely inhabited by law students and faculty, graduate students and young families. Preserved century-old houses and institutions like the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the Mark Twain House and Museum, and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History anchor the neighborhood to its past.
West End is primarily a residential neighborhood with museums, parks and historical homes.
West End is a short drive or bus ride down Farmington Ave from Downtown Hartford.
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Traditional, Victorian and American Foursquare homes
Many of the homes in the West End were built in the early 1900s, with popular styles including American Foursquare, traditional and Victorian homes. Some homes are single-family, though many are multifamily rentals or "rooming houses" geared toward grad students. Multifamily homes typically cost between $300,000 and $500,000, while single-family homes are generally priced between $300,000 and $900,000. Single-family homes can cost more because they're usually among the larger and more well-kept properties in the neighborhood. Many older homes are well preserved, with fresh coats of paint and interior upgrades. Clusters of trees and shrubs provide shade to pedestrians walking along the community's sidewalks, and cars park on private driveways or along the street.
At the northern end of the neighborhood, Woodside Circle has a handful of sprawling Tudor and Colonial Revival properties among dense trees and on larger lots than the rest of West End. "It's this wonderful enclave of magnificent private homes," says Bob LaPerla, Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in West Hartford. Just next to Woodside Circle, Goodwin Circle has a stretch of condo units built in the early 2000s, a digression from most of the community's style.
The West End is a historic neighborhood located in Hartford, Connecticut.
The West End offers a variety of housing styles, including beautiful historic homes.
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Two influential grad schools and school choice for public education
Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, formerly Hartford Seminary, is located in the neighborhood. This nondenominational school offers graduate programs in interreligious studies and chaplaincy. Its postmodern building, with a stark white exterior, geometric lines and large windows, was completed in 1981 and is among Hartford's most distinctive architectural landmarks. "What's beautiful about this building and what it represents is that you have students from all over the world that come here and study faith," LaPerla says.
Just across the street, the University of Connecticut School of Law now operates on the seminary's original property. The compact campus includes five Gothic-style buildings, most of which were built in the 1920s. "UConn Law lucked out to find itself in a building with that Gothic architecture because it immediately gave it this visual cachet," LaPerla says. "I would say the law school helps sustain the culture of the neighborhood. It has a very much Yale-ish feel."
For grade-school students living in the neighborhood, Hartford's public education system offers school choice, and the district's 39 total schools include 18 magnet schools. Students may begin at the elementary school Burns Latino Studies Academy, which earns a C-minus from Niche, before attending C-minus-rated McDonough Middle School. Hartford Public High School borders the grounds of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in the neighborhood and earns a C-plus from Niche. It offers learning pathways in allied health sciences, as well as engineering and green technology.
Hartford Public High School is one of the oldest High Schools in the country.
The University of Connecticut School of Law is a prestigious law school in West End.
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Elizabeth Park's rose garden and sunrises over Hartford's skyline
Crossing over from West Hartford into West End, Elizabeth Park covers just over 100 acres of public gardens, trails and athletic facilities. "That's the center of it all," LaPerla says. "People move here specifically to enjoy the park." Pond House Cafe hosts weddings overlooking its namesake pond, and visitors can also enjoy upscale Saturday and Sunday brunch in the scenic venue. Most popular is the park's Helen S Kaman Rose Garden, which peaks in late June. Blooms in a spectrum of red, white, yellow and pink envelop arched trellises and burst from flower beds that visitors can walk among. The park's sunrise overlook is another popular spot, where early risers can view the sun peeking over the Hartford skyline.
For indoor fun during the colder months, locals have been rolling strikes at Ducks on the Ave, a duckpin bowling venue on Farmington Avenue, since 1939.
A person walks along the paved pathway at Elizabeth Park in West End.
The skyscrapers of Downtown Hartford are seen from Elizabeth Park Overlook in West End.
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West End Porchfest and history at the Twain House and Stowe Center
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center and The Mark Twain House and Museum preserve and display Hartford's literary history. Visitors can explore the historic homesteads of these authors to learn more about their works and life in the city during the late 1800s. "The Stowe Center and Twain House are great anchors for that neighborhood," Freiburger says. The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is also in the West End.
The West End Civic Association hosts events like West End Porchfest in September. This neighborhood-wide festival features dozens of local musicians playing in genres ranging from classical to rock 'n' roll. Attendees can stake out their favorite performer and sit down with a lawn chair to listen more. Other events in the neighborhood include summer movies in Elizabeth Park and the West End Farmers Market, which runs on Tuesdays from June through October at Clemens Place Park.
Westside Square is the local hangout spot for the residents of West End.
The Mark Twain House in West End offers a variety of exhibits and programs.
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Laid-back dining at Wood-n-Tap and Spigot Cafe
Wood-n-Tap, just south of the neighborhood on Sisson Avenue, serves craft beer and American comfort food like burgers, nachos and wings. Spigot Cafe, located along Prospect Avenue on the edge of Hartford and West Hartford, sells over 150 types of beer and offers games like darts in its cherry-red building. About a mile south, Parkville Market is a food hall with more than two dozen eateries. This bustling venue with indoor and outdoor seating also has pop-up markets, live music, and trivia and bingo nights. Farmington Avenue is the main strip in the West End for casual restaurants and other businesses like gas stations and convenience stores. For groceries, Stop & Shop is about a mile and a half south of the neighborhood.
Tisane Euro-Asian Café is a popular establishment located in Hartford, Connecticut.
For over 56 years, The Spigot has served as a meeting spot for a diverse community in Hartford.
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Drive or take CTtransit buses down Farmington Avenue
Hartford once had a trolley line that went from West Hartford to downtown Hartford on Farmington Avenue. Although the trolley was discontinued after 1934, Farmington Avenue remains a main thoroughfare for West End drivers traveling between the two destinations. Interstate 84 also takes commuters 3 miles to downtown. Alternatively, residents can hop on CTtransit buses in the neighborhood to travel around the region.
St. Francis Hospital is just east of the West End, and Hartford Hospital is about 2 miles southeast. Bradley International Airport is 15 miles north. The West End has a CAP Index crime score of 8, higher than the national average of 4.
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
Are you familiar with the West End neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
West End
US
Homicide
8
4
Sexual Assault
8
4
Assault with Weapon
8
4
Robbery
8
4
Burglary
8
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
9
4
Larceny
7
4
Crime Score
8
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West End, Hartford sell after 66 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in West End, Hartford over the last 12 months is $411,739, down 18% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Seeking a turn-key investment? Look no further. This oversized two-family home presents an excellent opportunity for investors or owner-occupants looking to maximize rental income. With a brand new roof replaced a year ago and a meticulously maintained and updated interior, much of the major work has already been completed. Each unit features in-unit laundry for tenant convenience. The
Studio at Webster condominiums in Hartford's historic west end. Heat, hot water included in the condo fee. Laundry room in basement for use of tenants. Off street parking in back lot for one car. Unwarrantable condo, tenant would like to remain.
Webster condominium studio in Hartford's historic west end. Heat, hot water included in condo fee. Laundry room in basement. Off street parking for one car in back lot. Tenant in place, notice needed for showings.
Clemens Place Apartments features studio, one, and two bedroom apartments in the West End neighborhood of Hartford, Connecticut. Our vintage-style building has been renovated and features stellar amenities, combined with undeniable charm. Come and experience easy, convenient living near West Hartford Center and University of Hartford.
This charming 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit is now available for lease! Situated on the second floor, it boasts a renovated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and in unit washer and dryer. Enjoy the convenience of single-level living at its best! There is ample closet space and a covered back porch. The community is conveniently located near I-84, the Parkville Market, gastro parks,
Great neighborhood, beautiful and clean apartment. Available now is a cozy 300Sq Ft studio apartment located at 603 Farmington Avenue in the West End of Hartford on the bus line. 603 Farmington Avenue is one block east of the West Hartford line and minutes from the University of Hartford and UConn campuses. This unit features a bright living space with new paint and flooring. $805 heat and hot
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Patricia Deperry,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
7,946
Median Age
39
Population Density
12 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.1%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$33,293
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$68,879
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
78.5%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
36.4%
Advanced Degrees
21.4%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
59.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
28''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
53/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
54/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
48/ 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.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
