Woods, mountains and rolling hills in Kent
Kent is a rural community in the woods, mountains and rolling hills of Litchfield County. The community on the far west side of Connecticut often serves as a second home for city dwellers. “I’d say our market is 95% weekenders from the New York metro area,” says Karen Casey, a broker with William Pitt Sotheby’s Realty who has lived in the area since 1975. “We have thousands of acres that are either registered as land trust open space or state parks, so it’s really nice being in a community with so much beautiful scenery.” Kent’s identity is molded in part by three boarding schools in the area, and much of the local activity revolves around the village center, home to several local businesses and community events.
Historic and modern houses in low supply and high demand
Kent offers a range of houses built between the 1700s and 2000s. Availability is scarce, however. “We have more buyers than sellers, so when something comes on the market for $500,000 to $1 million, they tend to go quickly,” Casey says. Small homes on one or two acres can sell for $500,000 to $650,000, while larger houses on five or more acres range from $700,000 to over $1 million.
Fly-fishing, hiking the Appalachian Trail and exploring Kent Falls
With the Housatonic River running right through town, Kent is flush with state parks and mountainous nature reserves. “Cornwall, which is just north of here, is known for world-class fly fishing on the Housatonic River,” says Casey. “There are people who move here just for that.” Kent Falls State Park is a popular destination for locals and tourists looking to hike up or relax under the 250-foot cascading waterfall. Macedonia Brook State Park and Pond Mountain Natural Area are other common hiking spots with nature trails. Kent also has an entry point to the Appalachian Trail, which runs more than 2,100 miles from Maine to Georgia. Nearby Lake Waramaug has two state parks and opportunities for fishing, boating and country club golfing.
Local shops, restaurants and art galleries in the village center
Local businesses line Main Street in the village center, where century-old Colonial and Victorian-style homes have been converted into local boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. When dining out, locals can grab some pub grub on the patio at Kingsley Tavern, enjoy a blend of Mexican and American food at Villager Restaurant or head to Fife ‘n Drum for fine dining in a rustic atmosphere with rotating live piano music. 45 On Main serves coffee and homemade chocolate. For groceries, Davis IGA sells organic produce, which Casey says is in high demand for the community. “During the summer, you can travel the back roads and find lots of farm stands,” she says.
Highly rated public schools and three college prep boarding schools
Kindergarten through eighth-grade students attend Kent Center School, which receives an A grade from Niche and is ranked the best public middle school and fifth-best public elementary school in Litchfield County. Housatonic Valley Regional High School, rated B-plus, is a top high school for the arts.
Kent’s three boarding schools include Kent School, South Kent School and Marvelwood School. Kent (all boys) and South Kent (coed) both receive an A-plus. Marvelwood receives an A and offers a co-ed education with about 80% boarding students and 20% locals. “It’s a very sophisticated community, and that’s the culture that comes from the preparatory schools," says Casey. "They play a nice role here and want to be part of the community, not an elitist that stays across the bridge. They invite the town to different events, whether it be music, lectures or sports.”
Kent Sidewalk Sale Days and holiday celebrations in the village center
Kent Sidewalk Sale Days is one of the biggest events, held the first day of August in the village center. “It’s like a festival of shoppers,” says Casey. “Everything is basically half off, and all the merchandise is put outside. It’s been a huge draw for over 30 years.” In October, people race in the scenic 5-mile Kent Pumpkin Run, some wearing costumes. Come December, the town embraces the holiday season. “The village center is gorgeous during Christmastime," says Casey. "All the businesses are lit up, mostly in white lights, and they decorate their shop windows and doors. You feel like you’re in a fairytale.”
Two hours to New York by car or train
Main Street is part of U.S. Route 7, which runs north and south through Connecticut and serves as the starting point to most destinations, including New York City, about two hours away. Commuters can also take Metro-North for a two-hour train ride into Manhattan. Other nearby cities include New Haven and Hartford, about 90 minutes away.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
