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French Hill

French Hill

$573,188 Average Value
$182 Average Price per Sq Ft
5 Homes For Sale

A historic French-Canadian cultural hub next to downtown Marlborough

French Hill is named for the original French-Canadian immigrants who settled in Marlborough for factory jobs following the Civil War, when the town was the second-largest shoe manufacturer in the world. “Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, there was a big French-Canadian community; now, it’s a bit more multicultural,” says Robert Tunnera, a Marlborough local and owner of Tunnera Real Estate. For much of the neighborhood's history, it was more common to hear residents speaking French than English, and streets named after Versailles and Paris have cemented this community’s cultural legacy. Today, it’s a quaint, small-town suburb that’s within walking distance of Marlborough’s downtown area and next to natural locales such as Williams Lake and Fort Meadow Reservoir. “In 2018, the city approved a new zoning district for the French Hill area called the Neighborhood Business District. This zoning also encourages mixed-use and retail along the existing corridor,” says Meredith Harris, the executive director of the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation. “Since then, the city has been able to attract a new 276-unit mixed-use development that includes 10,000 square feet of retail space and a parking garage with 448 spaces.”
Take a calming stroll down the Williams Lake Boardwalk in French Hill.
Take a calming stroll down the Williams Lake Boardwalk in French Hill.
The Doughboy Monument sits proudly in  just outside of French Hill.
The Doughboy Monument sits proudly in just outside of French Hill.
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Folks can hike at Williams Lake and the Assabet River Rail Trail

Williams Lake is south of French Hill and is popular for bird-watching and hiking along the nearly 2-mile loop trail. Stevens Park is central to the neighborhood and features a playground and baseball diamond. To the north, Fort Meadow Reservoir is a manmade lake where folks can fish for yellow perch, swim at designated beaches or take a kayak out on the water. The paved Assabet River Rail Trail stretches nearly 10 miles through Middlesex County and cuts through French Hill, making for a leisurely bike ride or nature walk.
Take a long walk along the Assabet River Rail Trail near French Hill.
Take a long walk along the Assabet River Rail Trail near French Hill.
A stunning bridge leads you across Fort Meadow Resevoir in French Hill.
A stunning bridge leads you across Fort Meadow Resevoir in French Hill.
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Folks shop along Lincoln Street or at nearby Apex Center

Lincoln Street is French Hill’s commercial corridor, hosting local establishments like Prospect East Saloon for drinks and pool, while Pruller Restaurant has a buffet of Brazilian barbecue meats. Additional retail surrounds the neighborhood, Tunnera says. “French Hill is appealing because it’s close to downtown and the Apex Center. There’s also new development on French Hill that’s bringing businesses over there.” The Apex Center retail plaza is less than 2 miles west and features axe-throwing, go-karts and a trampoline park. A strip mall across the street houses Hannaford, a regional chain supermarket. Perched on the shore of Fort Meadow Reservoir is the family-owned Bolton Street Tavern, serving burgers, seafood and pub grub to pair with local brews. Folks can dine on the lakefront patio or come on Fridays and Saturdays for live music.
Emporium Brazil is one of many places to get eclectic food near French Hill
Emporium Brazil is one of many places to get eclectic food near French Hill
For an exciting new read you can stop at  Word on the Street near French Hill.
For an exciting new read you can stop at Word on the Street near French Hill.
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Early 20th-century homes along suburban streets

Home styles include Colonial Revivals and Craftsman houses, with multifamily, condo and townhouse options also available. “Homes here are pretty old, built around the early 1900s, [and] a lot of residents are generational homeowners, so there’s a lot of established families around,” says Tunnera. “[It’s] more popular for the [home] prices here than in Boston, so people live out this way and work in town.” Single-family prices range from $400,000 to $950,000. Condos typically cost between $250,000 and $450,000, while townhouses vary from about $350,000 to $775,000. The neighborhood’s streets are wide, leaving less room for sidewalks and lawn space and putting neighbors closer together.
Townhomes are one of many styles of architecture you will find in French Hill
Townhomes are one of many styles of architecture you will find in French Hill
Two family homes are particularly common in French Hill.
Two family homes are particularly common in French Hill.
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Marlborough hosts festivals all year round

Marlborough’s Labor Day parade starts on Lincoln Street, while the Food Truck and Arts Festival takes place in nearby downtown. At the annual September festival, attendees can sample food trucks and listen to live music or enjoy art installations on Main Street.

Marlborough High offers career academy classes

Marlborough Public Schools is the main district serving French Hill. Students can attend Raymond C. Richer Elementary School, with a C-plus grade from Niche. Older students can go to C-rated 1LT Charles L. Whitcomb Middle and Marlborough High, scored a B . Marlborough High also offers career-related programs like EMT certificates and the Technium Cyber Camp, prepping students for roles in cybersecurity.
Richer Elementary School in Marlborough offers an impressive campus.
Richer Elementary School in Marlborough offers an impressive campus.
Marlborough High School is the home of the Panthers.
Marlborough High School is the home of the Panthers.
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Commuters reach Boston in under an hour

Drivers can take the Massachusetts Turnpike or U.S. Route 20 to reach Boston; the which takes around 40 minutes, depending on traffic. There are three MetroWest Regional Transit Authority bus stops in French Hill for public transit connections to Marlborough’s diners and shops downtown.
Maxwell Olarinde
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
Al Straggas
Photography Contributed By
Al Straggas
Kyle Keyes
Video By
Kyle Keyes

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Schools

Source:
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

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Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Worcester Regional

33 min drive

Bus

Lincoln St & Pleasant St

Bus

Academy Knoll Apartments

Bus

Broad St & Lincoln St

French Hill Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$339,000
Median Sale Price
$358,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$339,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$358,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$1,105,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
17%
Last 12 months Home Sales
16
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-11%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$182

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,190
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Median Year Built
1961
Months of Supply
3.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,764
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,165
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,331
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
751
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
15,245

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

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Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
5,190
Median Age
39
Population under 18
23.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$83,721
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$110,590

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
84.8%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
35%
Advanced Degrees
17%
% Population in Labor Force
75.9%
Above the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
18°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
20''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

20 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

13 / 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.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
French Hill