New Bedford

New Bedford South Pond neighborhood is a lush section of woodsy Acushnet centered around a glistening reservoir. Colonial homes and contemporary houses here have grassy lawns and inviting front walk-ups, neighbors gather for eggs Benedict at a breakfast eatery in a gray-shingled house, and people pick up their fall pumpkins and Christmas trees every year at a local farm. The neighborhood is a 10-minute drive from the industrial city of New Bedford, a Massachusetts Gateway City where the state is currently building a new rail link to Boston. “People from the area could decide to go to Boston more often, for whatever reason, because people don’t like to drive in Boston traffic,” says Jason Lanagan, broker and president of Lanagan & Co. in New Bedford and a resident of nearby Fairhaven. “Presently, that’s the only way to get there.” Even though it’s right next to a gritty urban center, New Bedford South Pond has grassy suburban streetscapes. Ranch-style houses sit behind well-kept shrubbery, and colonials have grassy front lawns and paved driveways. Some homes sit behind protective walls made of brick. Home prices range between $564,000 and $708,000. The average home value is about $600,000. The crown jewel of the neighborhood is the New Bedford Reservoir. Locals call it “Lake Street,” and neighbors go there to fish, paddle and kayak. Parking is available in a gravel lot. Deer and foxes live in the woodsy areas on the reservoir’s shoreline. Closer to the town center is Pope Park, an outdoor athletic facility where kids play baseball and basketball games. A veteran’s memorial and wooden benches sit in a section of the park paved by brick. Children play on the park’s playground. Arts and crafts workshops, exhibits and jazz concerts happen at the Acushnet Public Library. Seasonal plants like Christmas trees and pumpkins are available in-season at Keith’s Farm, which hugs the east side of the New Bedford Reservoir. New Bedford South Pond is a residential area with several nearby restaurants and grocery stores. Neighbors can stock up for the week at Trucchi’s Supermarket, a local grocer with six locations in the New Bedford region. Fresh fish is for sale at Kyler’s Catch Seafood Market, located near the Acushnet River in nearby New Bedford. Closer to home, people start their days with eggs, coffee and bacon at the Little Phoenix. The restaurant opens at 5 a.m. every day. Acushnet has its own small public school system with less than 1,000 students and a B rating from Niche. Kids can attend Acushnet Elementary School (rated B-plus) and Albert F. Ford Middle School (rated B). Once they graduate from eighth grade, kids can choose one of four high schools to attend, and the town takes care of the payment. Fairhaven High School, New Bedford High School, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School and Bristol County Agricultural High School are the options. Fairhaven High School has a B rating from Niche. Vibra Hospital of Southeastern Massachusetts sits directly west of the neighborhood along Route 18. Massachusetts Route 140 is nearby, and Interstate 190 is about a 10-minute drive. Boston is about an hour and 15 minutes by car. The South Coast Rail line to New Bedford, which will link the city directly to Boston, is currently under construction. Lanagan says the train will be a resource for commuters and visitors alike. “Since remote work has become more popular, folks aren’t traveling every day to Boston anymore, but we do think it’s going to have an economic affect and impact,” he says. “We’re not sure if the ridership is going to be so much folks commuting to Boston and back for work, but just a direct line from this area to Boston and with stops along the way will make things easier for a lot of people.”

Sherwood Forest is a suburban neighborhood in east New Bedford, Massachusetts, near the dining and recreational variety in Acushnet River and Buzzards Bay. A drive through Sherwood Forest reveals tight residential streets and minimal sidewalk space, allowing residences to have larger yards. The neighborhood has many colonial, Cape Cod and split-level ranch homes with multi-car garages and curved driveways. Single-family homes in Sherwood Forest range from $350,000 to $600,000, varying by lot size and square footage of the house. Homebuyers can find a compact two-bed, one-bath at the bottom of the range or a spacious New England villa with a lot and two-car garage towards the top. Acushnet Public Schools and Bristol County Schools serve the children of Sherwood Forest. Nearby options include Acushnet Elementary, rated a B-plus on Niche, and Albert F. Ford Middle School, rated a B. For high school, students can learn at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High, rated a B. This high school also offers a comprehensive career prep program starting with a freshman experience that allows students to explore 15 different industry workshops, eventually picking one to study if they choose. For recreation, Pope Park has baseball fields, a play area for children, and a walking path between all these amenities, suitable for a leisurely hike or dog walk. The Sawmill is a park south of the neighborhood at the mouth of the Acushnet River, offering views of the water and informational signs about the wetlands; there's also a walking trail going over the river and around Mill Pond. Twelve miles away, residents can be part of the river and bay activities at locales like East Beach or Seaport Resort and Marina. Swimming, boating, and fishing are all common in New Bedford and well within Sherwood Forest residents' reach. 15-year Realtor Lisa Foster-Pacheco with RE/MAX River's Edge Bristol says, "There is a ton of boating and fishing and many waterfront seafood markets around the Acushnet River and Buzzards Bay." Closer to the river are stores like Kyler's Fresh Catch Seafood Market and Amaral's Market. Trucchi's Supermarkets New Bedford is a family-owned grocery chain with a butcher, fresh produce and seafood right outside the neighborhood border to the west. Further south is a small shopping center with a Stop & Shop, Savers, and a shoe store called Snipes. Pa Raffa's Italian Restaurant is a local dive for a Friday night out with a warm, red, rustic interior serving flatbread pizzas and chicken parmesan subs to the community since 1964. Foster-Pacheco says, "Sherwood Forest is pretty close to the waterfront, and there's a couple of restaurants within walking distance like the Black Whale, but a car is necessary to access all amenities." Driving is widespread in Sherwood Forest for transportation. An upcoming T station on Church Street is under construction and will be opened in 2024, offering residents public access to greater metropolitan centers. Multiple New Bedford ferries for public transport can take passengers to Cuttyhunk and Nantucket Island. Sherwood Forest is 30 miles from Cape Cod on Interstate 195 or Massachusetts state Route 105. Sherwood Forest's proximity to coastal Massachusetts opens ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. Pair that with good schools and public transport to greater Boston to get a thriving New England suburb.

Acushnet-Pine Hill is a quiet residential neighborhood that offers quick access to downtown New Bedford and the quiet South Coast of Massachusetts. “It’s a good area, and there’s lots to do,” Denise Plaskon, librarian at Lawler Library and longtime resident, says. “There’s a feeling of family and friendship. I know my neighbors by name, and I would never hesitate to ask them for help. Once, I was out shoveling snow and my neighbors came over to help me with it.” Most residential streets here are laid out on a grid, with homes on small lots behind narrow sidewalks. Houses feature simplistic details and traditional styles like Cape Cod and Colonial Revival. “They’re modest homes, by and large, but they’re well maintained,” Plaskon says. Three-bedroom houses most commonly range from the low- to mid- $400,000s. Cinderella’s Kitchen is a go-to spot for breakfast food in the area, and 6T5 Bar and Grille serves American food and specialty drinks. This popular eatery regularly hosts live bands and events. For seafood, Plaskon recommends The Black Whale and Merril’s on the Waterfront: “New Bedford is one of the biggest fishing centers in the country. There’s so much fresh seafood here. You can’t beat it.” Residents also don’t have to go far for shopping. Locals can pick up groceries at Trucchi’s Supermarkets or Stop and Shop. In downtown New Bedford, just 4 miles away, there are a variety of local boutiques and shops for residents to explore. Once the country estate of New Bedford Quaker Daniel Ricketson, Brooklawn Park now offers a variety of outdoor amenities, including a splash pad, playground, and softball and baseball fields. Four miles down the road is Buttonwood Park, where visitors enjoy the park’s walking trails and basketball courts. Families especially love exploring Buttonwood Park Zoo, which is accredited and recognized as “one of the finest small zoos” by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Locals looking for more secluded outdoor areas can hike and fish at the Acushnet Cedar Swamp State Reservation, just west of Route 140. Residents can also enjoy the fresh sea air at one of New Bedford’s public beaches, including East Beach and Fort Taber Beach, 7 miles south of the neighborhood. Residents are never far from events and festivals, including live performances at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center and celebrations like the New Bedford Seaport Chowder Festival. Locals can purchase fresh produce at the New Bedford Farmers Market in Buttonwood Park. The market hosts vendors of fresh, locally grown produce year-round: outdoors on Thursdays from June to October and indoors on Saturdays from November to May. The Buttonwood Park Zoo also hosts family-friendly events year-round, including summer camps, art classes and an annual bowling fundraiser. Acushnet-Pine Hill is just east of Route 140. It’s 4 miles north of downtown New Bedford and about 54 miles south of Boston, making it a popular spot for commuters. The town of New Bedford is currently constructing a rail line connecting Church Street to Boston, and commuting from New Bedford to Boston via the new train will take about 90 minutes. Church Street station is expected to open to the public in 2024. Students in the area may attend Elwyn G. Campbell Elementary School and Normandin Middle School, which earned C-plus and C grades on Niche, respectively. Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School emphasizes both academics and job-preparedness for its students. Its Co-Op education program allows students to work jobs in their field of interest during school hours. The school earns an overall B grade from Niche. Other high schoolers in the neighborhood may attend New Bedford High School, which earns an overall B-minus grade from Niche. Finished in 1966, the New Bedford Hurricane Protection Barrier protects the city from flooding when sea levels rise. It is the longest hurricane barrier on the East Coast. Although the last major hurricane it weathered was Hurricane Bob in 1991, the barrier occasionally closes during high tides and more common coastal storms.

Today, Clasky Park is a densely packed neighborhood in New Bedford, Massachusetts, but its history dates back to when it was the biggest whaling port in the early 19th century. The city is even said to have inspired descriptions of the ships and buildings in Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick. Although Whaling is no longer the region's primary industry, its maritime origins are still present in the neighborhood to this day: Clasky Park overlooks the Acushnet River and is next to several waterfronts, seafood restaurants and the New Bedford Whaling Museum. "It has such a rich and interesting history," says Molly Armando, a New England Realtor specializing in the South Coast. "We're thankfully not in the whaling business anymore, but it's still the largest fishing port in the whole East Coast. So in terms of fresh seafood restaurants, you'll find that all along the waterline, and you can see boats pulling in and out of the dock." The neighborhood is also right next to Downtown Bedford, which has some of the area's best shopping & dining options. Armando says downtown has "great restaurants, especially Portuguese cuisine, a bunch of stuff to do, and a strong sense of community." Armando: "For instance, one of the most chaotic festivals is held here. It's called Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, but it's basically just people enjoying food, getting drinks and having a good time." When residents need to leave the city, they take Interstate 195, which borders the neighborhood's north side. Houses in Clasky Park sit closely together and tend to be colored in earth tones. Some of the most common architectural styles are Victorian and colonial-inspired homes. Within the neighborhood is the Acushnet Heights Historic District. This section has older buildings, many of which have been converted into multi-family housing. "This area of the city has more people renting, but the single-family homes cost less than some of the surrounding areas," Armando says. "I would say most start around $300,000 and go up to $550,000." Some parts of the neighborhood have paved sidewalks, separating pedestrians from the city's traffic. The schools here fall within the New Bedford School District. John A. Parker Elementary enrolls around 200 students in grades K-5 and earns a C from Niche. Around 950 students in Grades 6-8 attend Keith Middle School, which also receives a C. Enrollment jumps when children enter high school: At New Bedford High, there are nearly 3,000 students total, making it one of the largest schools in the state. New Bedford High School earns a B-minus overall. It is known for its men's basketball and women's volleyball teams, which have both won state championships. Clasky Commons Park spans about one city block and has open fields, a playground, basketball court and trails. Residents often come here to walk their dogs or meet up with friends. "During the winter, they light up the park with Christmas lights. It's super pretty. People love to swing by and check it out," Armando says. Less than 3 miles away is the Buttonwood Zoo, connected to Buttonwood Park. Armando: "It's very cute and quaint, so it's an easy walk for little kids, and they always hold events there! We love Brew at the Zoo. There's also a soiree that costs $125 to get in." There are also events for children, such as guided hikes and arts & crafts. Because of Clasky Park's proximity to the coast, seafood restaurants abound. Some include Fathoms Waterfront Bar & Grille and Kyler's Catch Seafood Market and Kitchen. Armando recommends The Black Whale for craft cocktails and lobster fettuccine. "There's also a bunch of great Portuguese restaurants nearby," Armando says. "The amazing culture and food from their community make New Bedford what it is." Residents pick up groceries from stores including Market Basket. The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament was started in 1915 by four immigrants from Madeira in celebration of their safe arrival to the U.S. Today, the festival attracts over 100,000 visitors, blending cultural and religious traditions. Festival-goers enjoy marinated pork, Portuguese sausages, beer, and Madeiran wine. "There is so much alcohol consumption involved, oh my goodness," Armando says. "You're definitely going to have a great time if you go. But in all seriousness, it's a lovely festival that really shows how vibrant and fun the community is." Clasky Park is bordered by Interstate 195 to the north and Route 18 to the east. This allows residents to easily commute to other destinations, such as Providence or Cape Cod. Public transportation options include bus lines run by SRTA (Southeastern Regional Transit Authority) and ride-share apps. There is a regional airport, but this is usually used for private planes. The majority of residents choose to fly out of Rhode Island T.F Green International Airport, a 37-mile drive away.