Food, hot air balloons, great housing and more
With tons of fantastic restaurants, housing prices below the Hartford median and an annual hot air balloon festival, Plainville is anything but plain. “Plainville is a great little suburban town,” says Scott Bayne, President of Century 21 Bay-Mar who has been selling properties in the area for over 40 years. “It’s a very supportive area with that small-town feel.” The small-town feel can especially be enjoyed on East Street and East Main Street, where many of the town’s local restaurants and businesses operate. Plainville also offers plenty of parks with athletic fields and hiking trails and easy access to Interstate 84, which takes residents around New England in a jiffy.
A small town that packs in a lot of flavor
This small town is exploding with delicious local restaurants. Rebel Dog Coffee Co. & Tavern is just what it sounds like: the place residents go to for both their early morning coffee fixings and a drink at the bar. The establishment also serves brunches and lunches such as huevos rancheros and wood-fired pizzas. When residents want to watch the game with a side of drinks and delectable wings, they can stop by Sliders Grill & Bar or J. Timothy’s Taverne. Operating out of an 18th century tavern, J. Timothy’s is well-known for their caramelized, crispy “dirt wings,” which are fried and sauced twice. For classic American cuisine, residents love Frankies and Main Street Diner; the latter’s outside even resembles a retro ‘50s eatery. Local grocery shops can be found downtown like Gnazzo Food Center and Jim’s Grocery & Deli. Big-box stores can be found near the neighborhood’s edges like Stop & Shop and Big Y World Class Market.
Plainville balloons up each year
The Plainville Fire Company Hot Air Balloon Festival has filled the town’s skies since 1984. Although the event was canceled for a few years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the balloon festival has since resumed and remains one of the largest in New England.
Houses here don’t stay on the market for long
The median home value in Plainville is around $300,000, which is around $70,000 less than Hartford County. Because of homes’ comparative affordability and their location in a quaint neighborhood, houses aren’t up for sale for long. “There’s a very strong market in Plainville, and very well-priced for the area,” Bayne says. “It’s not a large market, but when a house goes up for sale, it goes quickly.” Cape Cod, Colonial Revival, split-level and ranch-style houses are the norm. Move-in ready houses will start around $265,000, though homes ready for a little TLC can go for half of that. Houses with at least 2,000 square feet of space often sell in the $400,000s. Houses have been built almost continuously since the 1920s. Homebuyers can expect homes built since the 2010s to start around $450,000. Townhouse and condo units are also available, with varying square footages, usually going for between $125,000 and $275,000. A few 55+ communities like Willow Brook Estates can be found in Plainville.
Plainville schools look out for all students
Students can attend one of three elementary schools such as Linden Street School before moving up to the Middle School of Plainville and finishing at Plainville High School. Linden Street and the Middle School of Plainville have B ratings from Niche while Plainville High holds a B-plus. Through Plainville High’s Unified Sports club, students can play sports and connect with their friends in the special education program.
Playing sports and ascending peaks
Plainville’s baseball and softball little leagues play on the fields of Trumbull Park, but there’s no reason residents can’t get together and play games of their own there. More fields can be found at Norton Park, along with soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and a public pool. Numerous hiking trails, both moderate and challenging, can be found at Crescent Lake Park, Rattlesnake Mountain and Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve.
Walking, driving or taking the bus
Three CT Transit lines go through Plainville, though they’re primarily handy for traveling to Bristol, New Britain and Hartford. Many restaurants and shops are within a 10-minute walk for residents, but otherwise, they enjoy driving cars. Interstate 84 is Plainville’s main highway. Via I-84, residents are less than 2 hours away from New York City and only 20 minutes from downtown Hartford. Neighboring Bristol and New Britain are less than 15 minutes away for many locals.
Photography Contributed By
Ed Messenger
