$316,822Average Value$228Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
Looking toward downtown New London this view of the Willetts neighborhood is descriptive.
A mix of urban and suburban next to downtown New London
Along the streets and avenues of Willetts, a New London neighborhood near the Thames River and southwest of downtown, homes are large, front yards are small and sidewalks are everywhere. Kids can walk to the park for soccer practice, and families can take the bus downtown, have dinner or catch a ferry to Block Island. “Willetts is convenient to all the city's amenities,” says Associate Broker John Huhn with Coldwell Banker Realty, who’s sold real estate in the area for 17 years. “Residents who live near Pequot Avenue can walk to several marinas. I used to keep my boat in one of them when I lived in the city.” Lawrence and Memorial Hospital is blocks away. Fort Trumbull State Park and local shopping centers are all within a mile. “New luxury apartments have gone up along Ocean and Montauk avenues, catering to engineers at Electric Boat,” says Realtor and Broker/Owner Greg Hanner of Garden Realty. The submarine manufacturer’s research facility is off Pequot Avenue, making Willetts the closest residential neighborhood to its offices. Homes in Willetts range from multifamily houses built around 1900 to starter suburban homes. “It’s the mix of urban and suburban that draws people,” Hanner says.
Many of the older homes in the Willetts are well-kept and renovated examples.
A range of single-family, multifamily and suburban-style homes
Most homes in Willetts are single-family houses built around the turn of the 20th century, with two or more stories, front porches and period details, including original wood trim, hardwood flooring and large windows. Historic homes needing updating or renovation are priced between $150,00 and $300,000. Fully restored homes can sell for $350,000 to $600,000. Multifamily homes, almost all historic, often feature two or three units and list for $250,000 to $400,000. “While many of the lots are postage-stamp-sized, they’re a good choice for entry-level homebuyers,” Huhn says. “You get more house for the money in Willetts compared to similar houses in Waterford a mile west.” Midcentury ranches, Cape Cods and colonial-style homes west of Ocean Avenue offer an alternative to the heavier urban feel eastward. They offer larger front yards and fenced-in backyards, selling for $250,00 to $360,000.
The line is long, but the wait is not and the food is worth it at Captain Scott's in Willetts.
Well-established restaurants and businesses in Willetts
Ocean Pizza Restaurant and Seafood House on Ocean Avenue has been voted the best pizza in town by readers of the New London Day newspaper. Run by the same family for over half a century, the restaurant offers pizza, seafood, steaks, and Greek and Italian dishes. Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock is not far away, a no-frills eatery known for its hot and cold lobster rolls. Customers order and pick up from a window and can sit at picnic tables, some of which are under a shelter, or on Adirondack chairs that look out to a marina. Wayfarer Bicycle has been in business since 1972, selling and servicing bikes and advising cyclists on the best places to ride in Eastern Connecticut. For the essentials, residents have a Walgreens close by on Bank Street, and the nearest grocery stores are Stop and Shop and Aldi west of the neighborhood in the Waterford Shopping Plaza on Route 1.
The Coast Guard has a big presence in New London, and by the Willetts neighborhood a ship docks.
CT Maritime Heritage Fest in September
New London celebrates its rich maritime history every September with CT Maritime Heritage Fest, a weekend event held at Fort Trumbull State Park and New London Waterfront Park on the Thames River. Children can enjoy face painting and the Little Mermaids and Sea Monsters Parade. Military and private ships will be on the water, and live music, food trucks and maritime-inspired activities, such as a Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue demonstration, will be at the fort. Reenactments of Benedict Arnold’s betrayal and burning of New London are performed at both Fort Trumbull and Waterfront Park.
Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School has a 2.1 on GreatSchools.
New London schools with all-magnet curricula
Schools that serve Willetts are part of the New London School District, which receives a C from Niche. New London is Connecticut’s first all-magnet school district. Families of PK-5 students can apply to the school that fits their child’s interests most, such as C.B. Jennings International Elementary, which earns a C-minus and emphasizes world languages and debate. At Bernie Dover Jackson Middle, another C-minus school, students can choose the international education pathway or study STEM topics like oceanography, coding and artificial intelligence. At New London High School, a C-plus school, students can choose from international education, STEM, or visual and performing arts, which prepares them for careers in dance, theater and the media arts. Mitchell College, which enrolls many first-generation students, is a little over a mile south of Willetts.
Fishing is a splendid sport at Fort Trumbull State Park Pier next to the Willetts neighborhood.
Sports facilities, a public beach and a historic riverfront park
Caulkins Park in Willetts features a baseball field, multiple soccer fields, a playground and a basketball court. The New London Soccer Club meets there, and the park is home to youth baseball leagues, football camps, social walking clubs and dog walkers. Mercer Field is a baseball diamond on the western side of Willets, and along the river, Green Harbor Park offers a playground and a public beach with views of marinas. Nearby, Fort Trumbull State Park has a Colonial-area fort initially built to protect New London Harbor from the British. Its masonry construction and high stone walls are impressive, and its museum captures the fort’s history, starting with the British attack under the command of Benedict Arnold. Visitors can also see the harbor and the General Dynamics Electric Boat manufacturing plant on the opposite shore, where U.S. nuclear submarines are built. Block Island, too, is a favorite day trip. Visitors take the high-speed, passenger-only ferry from Downtown New London to the island, which takes about 90 minutes. The island features beautiful beaches, trails, lighthouses and a quaint downtown. Visitors are also invited to hunt for glass orbs hidden on beaches and trails throughout the island. Over 500 are made in nearby Wakefield, Rhode Island, and placed by volunteers called “orbivores.”
With the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital anchoring the Willetts neighborhood there is safety.
Transportation and health resources in Willetts
Cyclists will find bike lanes on Montauk Avenue, which runs the length of Willetts. Southeast Area Transit or SEAT buses stop along Bank Street, Ocean Avenue and Montauk Avenue. The New London Amtrak Station is about 1.5 miles away in the heart of downtown. Amtrak trains take passengers to Boston, 100 miles north, and New York City, 130 miles south. Interstate 95 is 2 miles from Willetts and connects drivers to these cities. An alternative route to Boston is I-395, which runs through Norwich, 15 miles north. At the southern end of Willetts, Lawrence and Memorial Hospital on Montauk Avenue is a 308-bed general hospital that provides medical, surgical, pediatric and obstetric care services.
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
On average, homes in Willetts, New London sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Willetts, New London over the last 12 months is $320,000, up 30% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Investment opportunity in the heart of New London! This well-maintained 4-family property offers strong rental history with most tenants in place for over 10 years. Recent updates provide peace of mind, including exterior paint (2024), a 12-year-old roof, natural gas hot water heaters all 5 years old or newer, and a driveway just 5 years young. Additional income potential with convenient on-site
Recently remodeled from outside walls in! Unit is located on the 2nd & 3rd floor. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Easy care Vinyl wood look flooring throughout, just about new everything! Stainless appliances, ample cabinet space! Washer & Dryer hook ups in unit. Nothing to do, but move in!
Just steps away from the water, The Beam is a remarkable apartment building designed to take advantage of everything New London has to offer—with riverside views, thoughtfully designed floorplans, and a wide array of life-enhancing amenities. Best of all, it’s just minutes away from Fort Trumbull State Park, the Thames River, and the world-class employers that have set up shop along its banks.
Spacious, two level, three bedroom apartment with in-unit laundry. Tenant pays for heat and hot water (gas) as well as electric. Pets considered. Off street parking. **** Required: Application, Credit Check, Background Screening, Eviction Check, and Security Deposit **** Available October 1st.
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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.
