$672,563Average Value$438Average Price per Sq Ft4Homes For Sale
Morris is rural and spacious, with residents who preserve its character
Morris, Connecticut, is a small town built on farming history and rural character, with residents who want to maintain its peaceful atmosphere and natural surroundings. Homes are on side roads and in small subdivisions, but Morris is still a natural area of forests, wetlands, rolling hills and a lake. "There's a strong feeling of preservation and conservation in the surrounding area, and we want to preserve the lifestyle we have here," says Dave Luzi, associate broker with E. J. Murphy Realty Services, a lifelong resident of nearby Litchfield and realtor for 41 years. The town has grown in population over the years, especially around Bantam Lake. However, according to Luzi, "It's still a quiet and rural area with low housing density. You get a mile from the small centers of these northwestern Connecticut towns, and it's not uncommon for houses to be on 10 or more acres."
Residents can enjoy a variety of small community events throughout the year at Morris Community Hall.
Farmhouses are one of the many housing styles in Morris.
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Older styles or new homes in place of torn-down lake cottages
Farmhouses, split-levels, Cape Cods and colonial homes from the 1800s are throughout Morris, either closely beside one another around Bantam Lake or spread out on large parcels of land. The older homes sell between $275,000 and $600,000, while newer styles are more expensive. "Back in the 1960s and 1970s, many of the properties around the lake were still simple cottages with no heating, no plumbing and limited electricity that drew water from the lake," Luzi says. People bought up the seasonal cottages, knocked them down and built homes for year-round living. "Some people even bought multiple adjacent lots and built very substantial homes – sometimes just for weekends away," he says. These large new traditional and modern Craftsman homes on Bantam Lake sell between $550,00 and $3.5 million.
Older homes in Morris can go from $275,000 to $600,000.
There are large new traditional homes that back up to Bantam Lake in Morris.
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Bantam Lake is a central part of the community
Morris Town Beach and Bantam Lake Yacht Club are on the lake's shores. "The main attraction of Morris is the lake," Luzi says of Connecticut's largest natural lake. "It's a central part of the community." Residents can boat, fish, swim and explore untouched stretches around the lake's perimeter. White Memorial Conservation Center is a 4,000-acre nature preserve that has 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, ponds, wetlands and woods. "It's just beautiful. And there's a nature museum with displays and exhibits," Luzi says.
South Farms is a wedding and event venue in Morris that also holds outdoor activities and community gatherings. Most notable are a summer concert series and a bluegrass festival, with games, food trucks and live music. In winter, they host indoor events like comedy and trivia nights.
Ice fisherman often access the ice from Morris Town Beach.
Residents and visitors enjoy the serenity along the boardwalk trail at the White Memorial Conservation Center.
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James Morris left a legacy for public education
Morris is named after James Morris, an early Yale graduate, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 officer and a military captain under Alexander Hamilton. What he's most known for in the area, however, is opening one of the first coeducational schools in the country in 1790, which remained open until 1888. The school building no longer exists, but James Morris School stands in its place.
Regional School District No. 6 recently combined with Litchfield Public Schools, creating Regional School District No. 20. Elementary-aged students still attend the same school as before the districts merged, while middle and high schoolers attend new combined schools. James Morris School teaches kindergarten through fifth grade and is rated B-plus by Niche. Plumb Middle School and Lakeview High School are not yet rated. The high school offers an ASTE program, which stands for agriculture, science and technology education. Students from surrounding towns may apply and participate in classes that focus on agriculture, horticulture, farming and large animals.
James Morris School receives a B+ from Niche.
Plumb Hill Middle School is located right off Plumb Hill Road in nearby Litchfield.
High schoolers in Morris can finish their education at Lakeview High School.
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Part-time residents and weekenders travel from New York City
Morris is 35 miles from Hartford and 15 miles from Waterbury. Both are large cities in Connecticut with employers and main highway connectivity via Interstate 84. New York City is 100 miles, or about two hours, away by car. "I don't know the numbers exactly, but I'd say close to 50 or 60 percent of Morris homeowners are weekenders or just live there seasonally," Luzi says. "Almost all those part-time residents are from New York City." Luzi says that Morris is too far from the city to commute daily, but close enough to get away easily. "It's the perfect distance to keep the area from being heavily developed like the suburbs." U.S. routes 202 and 6 are nearby, as is Connecticut State Route 8. Bradley International Airport is 44 miles away, and the nearest hospitals are in Waterbury and Torrington.
One of the closest hospitals to Morris is the Waterbury Hospital.
Bradley International Airport is about 44 miles away from Morris in Windsor.
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Filling up at the local grocery store and going to a nearby city for retail shopping
The Market CT – Bantam is a small grocery store with local produce and no-waste fill stations for pantry staples, grains and treats. Shoppers can also fill their own kombucha at a station with growlers and eight kombucha flavors on tap. The nearest traditional grocery store is Stop & Shop in Litchfield. Torrington and Waterbury have large shopping plazas with national retailers. "Torrington is also where the hospital is," Luzi says. "I always say that the doctors of the area work in Torrington but live in Litchfield or Morris." Two local spots for a bite to eat or a sweet treat are The Deli and Popey's Ice Cream Shoppe.
The Market is an independent grocery store with an emphasis on locally sourced organic foods in nearby Bantam.
Arethusa Farm Dairy serves award-winning ice cream a few miles from Morris.
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Written By
Heather Haggerty
Photography Contributed By
Charlie Lingner
Video By
Charlie Lingner
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Tim Drakeley,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Morris, CT sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Morris, CT over the last 12 months is $758,500, up 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Opportunity on this 1.38-acre residential lot in Morris (Litchfield County). Located on quiet Stoddard Road, the parcel is wooded and set back for privacy from neighboring homes, offering a natural buffer and a tucked-away feel. The manageable size provides flexibility for a custom home or weekend retreat, with room for outdoor space while remaining easy to maintain. Convenient to town amenities
Picture yourself making memories at the most affordable Waterfront location on Connecticut's Largest Natural Lake! This charming cottage, cherished by the same family for over 60 years, is now ready for a new chapter. Imagine soaking up those stunning sunsets - it's truly a special place. Sure, this seasonal cutie is waiting for your personal touch, but it's completely ready for three seasons of
Set on one of Deer Island's largest waterfront parcels, this 1920s lake house offers approximately 3,500 square feet of living space across five bedrooms and approximately 180 feet of lake frontage. The property features mature landscaping with specimen trees, a boathouse with drive-in docking and changing rooms, a private boat launch, stone lakefront walls, beach area and a built-in outdoor
Bright and sunny Contemporary with open floor plan and natural light on Bantam Lake's quiet west shoreline. First-floor primary bedroom with full bathroom. This home has been freshly painted with new flooring and new mattresses in all bedrooms. This home is fully furnished with smart TVs throughout with outdoor furniture and BBQ grill.
Pristine 5-bedroom private home on scenic dirt road ideal for walking, jogging and biking. Magnificent design with 2 gas fireplaces and filled with the art of Thomas McKnight. 2 over-sized wood decks overlooking the heated pool surrounded by endless summer hydrangea and 3 acres of lawns. The perfect location minutes from the center of Washington, the Mayflower and Winrian Inns & Spas.SUMMER:June
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