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About Leicester, MA

About Leicester, MA

Established and historic Massachusetts neighborhood

Leicester’s involvement in the American Revolutionary War, Industrial Revolution and American Civil War makes its storied past a point of interest for visitors and locals of the town. “There’s a lot of history here, and people are interested in knowing and preserving that history,” says Susane Hall, Director of Leicester Library. But residents are also interested in the wellbeing of the community today. "Some families have been here for generations and are very invested in the town,” Hall says. “The community groups like the Lion’s Club are very established.”

Farmland, barns and homes along the pond

Houses in small developments are often spread out and surrounded by trees, and lawns are generally well-kept with green grass. Houses in more secluded parts of the town sit on farms or large plots of land. Many houses overlook the ponds and reservoirs in the area, including Sargeant Pond and Moose Hill Reservoir. Smaller homes frequently feature Cape Cod or ranch styles, while larger homes are often farmhouse colonials. Many larger homes have additions and, depending on the area, barns or sheds in the backyard. Three-bedroom homes usually cost around $400,000. More expensive homes in the area have four or five bedrooms and range anywhere from the mid-$650,000s to $700,000 or more.

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A farmhouse colonial in Leicester has a large driveway and attached barn.
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Lake Whittemore has beach access and many houses with waterfront in Spencer. access.
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The interior of a green house used as a storage area for a farm that is located in Leicester.
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High school students on a college campus

The Leicester Public School System has its own elementary, middle and high schools. Students may attend Leicester Memorial Elementary, which has a C grade from Niche. Leicester Middle School has a C-plus grade and has unique activities like Ski and Snowboard club. Down the road, Leicester High School earns a B-minus and has a better-than-average student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. After Becker College in Worcester shut down in 2021, the town of Leicester acquired the land to repurpose it for high school students. High school juniors and seniors from Leicester now attend classes on the campus.

A wildlife sanctuary at Moose Hill

Burncoat Park is a secluded wooded conservation area with a pond and a small basketball court. Nearby is Luther Hill Park, which has a skate park, disc golf and a playground overlooking the beach area. In the summer, residents can swim in the lake. Moose Hill Wildlife Management Area is a local wildlife sanctuary with wetlands, forests and fields where residents can hike. “There’s a lot of undeveloped wetlands in the area, which is pretty characteristic of other towns around here,” Hall says.

The Leicester Harvest Fair and an 18th century tavern

Each year in September, locals gather for the Leicester Harvest Fair. “The Lion’s Club supplies food and a lot of people come together. It’s like a picnic with the entire community,” Hall says. “The harvest fair started 100+ years ago as ‘Founder’s Day’ to celebrate the town’s establishment, but it’s evolved.” The event includes parades, vendors and games. Another popular community event is the annual Halloween parade hosted by the town fire department. Firefighters and local businesses come together to hold contests and welcome trick-or-treaters. Swan Tavern in the town common dates back to 1768. Thanks to the town’s Historical Commission and Historical society, it now serves as the town’s history museum. “It’s on one of the older lots in town. We also have a local history museum here in the library,” Hall says.

Dining with a twist at Eller's on Main Street

Castle Cantina is a Spanish tapas restaurant on Main Street with a one-of-a-kind atmosphere: Its building and interior look like a medieval castle. Eller’s is another local spot on Main Street serving casual American food with a twist. Its menu options include peanut butter and jelly wings, cranberry pecan salmon and BBQ bacon meatloaf, as well as more standard options like chicken parmesan and salads. For groceries, Leicester also has a Walmart east of the town center off MA-9.

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The Castle Cantina is a tapas bar and restaurant in Leicester with castle decor.
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Leicester has a Walmart supercenter.
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Suburb of Worcester

Leicester is 6 miles from the second largest city in Massachusetts, Worcester. “Leicester doesn’t have a lot of the infrastructure of a big city, but it’s easily accessible to amenities like the train station, hospital and colleges in Worcester. [Leicester] is in a good, central location that feels secluded, but you still have the convenience of the city nearby,” Hall says.

Faith Wakefield
Written By
Faith Wakefield
Matt Barrett
Photography Contributed By
Matt Barrett
Mark Tilley
Video By
Mark Tilley

Neighborhood Map

Leicester by the Numbers

10,840
Population
$468K
Average Housing Value
18
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Leicester, MA

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Alfred M Chaffee
#1 Alfred M Chaffee
B
Niche
West Tatnuck School
#2 West Tatnuck School
B
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Heard Street Discovery Academy
#3 Heard Street Discovery Academy
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Jacob Hiatt Magnet School
#4 Jacob Hiatt Magnet School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Leicester Memorial Elementary School
#5 Leicester Memorial Elementary School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Tatnuck Magnet School
#6 Tatnuck Magnet School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Chandler Magnet
#7 Chandler Magnet
C+
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Clara Barton Elementary School
#8 Clara Barton Elementary School
C+
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

University Park Campus School
#1 University Park Campus School
B+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Sullivan Middle School
#2 Sullivan Middle School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Leicester Middle School
#3 Leicester Middle School
C+
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Forest Grove Middle School
#4 Forest Grove Middle School
B-
Niche
2
GreatSchools
Oxford Middle School
#5 Oxford Middle School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

Wachusett Regional High School
#1 Wachusett Regional High School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Auburn Senior High School
#2 Auburn Senior High School
B
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Shepherd Hill Regional High School
#3 Shepherd Hill Regional High School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
University Park Campus School
#4 University Park Campus School
B+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Leicester High School
#5 Leicester High School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Doherty Memorial High School
#6 Doherty Memorial High School
B
Niche
3
GreatSchools
South High Community
#7 South High Community
B
Niche
3
GreatSchools
David Prouty High School
#8 David Prouty High School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Oxford High School
#9 Oxford High School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Taylor Blair
(774) 772-5493
Taylor Blair knew a career in Real Estate was for him after purchasing his first home. He thoroughly enjoyed the process and with his background in sales, he felt that becoming an agent would be a great fit! He is looking forward to helping clients and providing them with the same type of positive experience he had while purchasing his home. He is also excited to utilize the training Lamacchia Realty offers to help buyers and sellers reach all their Real Estate goals.

Taylor grew up in West Boylston, has as lived in Sturbridge, and now lives in Holden. He is also a firefighter and paramedic.
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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.