$315,486Average Value$236Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes For Sale
Suburban living with highway access
Along Princeton Street in the Manchester neighborhood of Bowers, a line of mighty maple trees guards the front yards of traditional New England colonials. “We used to call it ‘Pill Hill’ after the doctors who lived there and worked at Manchester Memorial Hospital,” says Vincent Diana, a broker with William Raveis Real Estate. “Classic, medium-priced homes close to work draw people to Bowers,” he says. Interstates 84 and 91 do, too, says Realtor and broker/owner Kim Dodge of Get Real Today. “I do business in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and Bowers gives you easy access to both.” Within walking distance of schools, a hospital, shopping centers and recreation, Bowers offers quality suburban living without the hefty price tag.
Classic, old-world homes
Most homes in Bowers were built between 1930 and 1970. Capes are well represented, some with dormers and some without. Colonials represent much of the housing stock, with some Dutch examples offering higher square footage and huge decks out back. Ranches, too, are available, often with bay windows and finished basements. “There’s a classic, old-world charm to the homes in Bowers,” Diana says. “All have character, and no two are alike.” Single-family homes list for between $225,000 and $375,000, and a small number of condos are priced from $150,000 to $175,000. “This is a great community for first-time homebuyers or anyone looking to downscale,” Dodge says. “People who don’t want to live in the city or mind a home next to neighbors will be happy here.”
Walkable Manchester schools
Schools that serve the neighborhood include Bowers School, a K-4 elementary that received a B-minus from Niche. For fifth and sixth grades, Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy, a C school, is south of the neighborhood and offers unified programs in art, music, physician education and computer science. Illing Middle, a 7-8 school, scored a C-plus and offers several sports programs. Students finish at Manchester High, a B-minus school with specialized academies for medical careers, performing arts, public service and more. “Most schools are within walking distance of homes and the Manchester Police Station,” Diana says. “Because the neighborhood is on the same power line as the police and Manchester Memorial Hospital, it rarely loses power during storms.”
Transportation in Bowers
CT Transit offers several bus routes that run through Bowers. Plans are also being worked on to create new bike lanes that lead to downtown. Middle Turnpike West to Interstate 84 takes drivers directly into Hartford, a 10-mile trip, where they can also catch Amtrak trains. Hartford-Brainard Airport is accessible using the Wilbur Cross Highway.
Schoolyards and parks
Because Bowers is exclusively residential, residents often visit local schools or adjacent parks for recreation. “The elementary school has a baseball field and a playground,” Diana says. “You’ll also find a soccer/football field and a running track at the high school. They play cricket there, too.” Hikers can pick up the Cheney Rail Trail, a multi-use trail created from a former railroad line, off Hilliard Street and walk or bike it to Center Springs Park, a large recreational area with a lake used for ice skating, a fishing pier, a disc golf course and walking paths. “Center Springs has a nice hill for sledding,” Diana says, “and it’s right next to Downtown Manchester.”
From pubs and popular retail
For a bite to eat, locals can head to The Main Pub for its happy hour, burgers or upscale mains. This family-owned business also features trivia on Thursdays and live music on select weeknights and weekends. Farther down Main, residents can stroll Downtown Manchester and enjoy its public murals, art benches and galleries. Here, young musicians can buy their first instruments at Beller’s Music, which has been in business for 70 years. Stop and Shop is the closest major grocery store in Manchester Parkade Shopping Center. For everything else, the Buckland Shopping District on the far side of Interstate 84 features popular retail chains, including Target and Macy’s.
Happenings downtown
About a mile down Main Street, Downtown Manchester hosts dozens of events, such as the MACC Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from July to October. Cruisin’ on Main is the town’s antique car show held in August, bringing together over 1,000 vehicles. The Manchester Road Race is held on Thanksgiving Day and attracts over 15,000 registered runners and walkers.
Major hospitals within reach
Manchester Memorial Hospital, a 249-bed acute-care community hospital, sits one block outside Bowers and provides comprehensive family-focused care, from cardiac emergencies and strokes to broken bones and sudden illness. Hartford Hospital is 10 miles west on Interstate 84 and has been rated as the No. 1 hospital in the Hartford Metro Area and among the best hospitals in Connecticut. Part of the same medical campus, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is one of only two freestanding children’s hospitals in New England exclusively dedicated to children.
Written By
Christopher Kopczynski
Photography Contributed By
Ed Messenger
Video By
Alex Jacobsen
Was this overview helpful?
Agents Specializing in this Area
Amy Rio
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Executive Real Estate
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 Bowers neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Bowers
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Bowers Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Bowers, Manchester sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Bowers, Manchester over the last 12 months is $322,500, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Exceptional opportunity for investors, builders, and developers! This 4-bedroom, 2-bath home sits on 3.64 surveyed acres in a desirable area of Manchester, CT with incredible development potential. Preliminary work has already been completed, including a wetlands survey and concept plan, making this property ready for the next phase of planning and development. Potential possibilities include up
Enter this 1943 home through a unique, arched, solid-wood entry door, framed by New England fieldstone lending a storybook, Snow White Cottage appearance. You'll fall under the spell of its charm with covered porch, outdoor dining in view of specimen plantings such as dogwood, hibiscus, and Japanese maple. Step inside to hardwood and tile floors throughout. Features include a large family room,
Liz LucianoBetter Homes and Gardens Real Estate Executive Real Estate
Beautifully updated and maintained home with a park caliber backyard! Well updated, 2 bedroom home with an open layout through the kitchen, living and dining rooms. Built in entertainment system wrapping around a gas fireplace sets the perfect mood for movie night. The backyard is fully fenced in and fully landscaped with a salt water, in-ground pool making it the perfect environment for hosting.
Stately 1930s colonial with a huge 1992 family room addition. Plenty of room to roam in this spacious home. Charm and character throughout, but with modern amenities and convenience. New kitchen, newer bathrooms, and new roof. Large neighborhood lot - walking distance to schools. Huge family room with wood clad cathedral ceilings. Walk up attic for lots of seasonal storage. Fenced rear yard and
Beautiful 1BR Garden Style units & Luxury 2BR Townhouse some with Garages. These 2BR Townhouses have cathedral ceilings & dining rooms that over look the living room. 2BR Townhouses have basements with W/D Hook-ups. Large office space for rent approximately 1000 square feet. Conveniently location busy business area, office features waiting area and private offices and kitchen area. Office comes
Lofts at the Mills is a beautiful apartment home community in a charming converted mill building located in Manchester, Connecticut. Choose from our exceptional studio, one-, two-, or three-bedroom floor plans, uniquely designed with the apartment features you deserve. Our beautiful converted building has allowed us to create stunning apartments with soaring 15-foot ceilings and windows, exposed
Welcome home to Clocktower Mill and Velvet Mill Apartments! Ifwe were to describe our apartments in Manchester, CT, in a couple ofwords, we'd go for modern and well-appointed. Here, you'll reside in comfortand sophistication while exploring the unique and dynamic culture of theneighborhood. Superior amenities, desirable services, and a well-connectedaddress near Center Springs
Experience quiet Senior living at Crockett Fields Apartments, featuring one and two bedroom garden style apartments. Refrigerator, Stove, Dishwasher, Washer and Dryer all included.
Located on a dead-end street where privacy and security is ideal is this newly renovated 3b- 1b home, this home was gutted to the studs to achieve this beautiful and welcoming feeling. Stunning kitchen with a beautiful backsplash,stainless steel appliances and a over the range vent, spacious living area ,bathroom is truly relaxing ,master bedroom comes with a His and Her's closet space.A
Welcome to this beautifully fully renovated condo where modern design meets effortless living. Every inch of this home has been thoughtfully updated, offering a perfect blend of style, comfort, and functionality. The spacious living and dining areas flow seamlessly, creating and inviting space to relax and host guests. Step inside to discover a bright and open floor plan featuring fresh paint,
This remodeled rental offers two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. The property features an open-concept kitchen, dining area, and living room, and comes fully equipped with appliances, including a washer and dryer. Additional amenities include an enclosed front porch, a generously sized private deck overlooking a spacious backyard, and a separate driveway for convenient parking. Credit
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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.