Castle Hill
New England home styles perched above Salem
A mix of single-family and multi-family homes line the orderly streets of Castle Hill, framed by narrow sidewalks and shaded by a sparse canopy of established trees. The neighborhood sits at a higher elevation than the surrounding area. “It’s definitely hillier than the rest of Salem,” Bernal says. “In the winter, kids will come to Castle Hill to go sledding because it has the best hills.” New England styles are prevalent in the residential architecture; Cape Cods sit beside Dutch colonial vernacular styles and small ranch-style homes. Prices typically land between $400,000 and $800,000 for single-family homes, while multifamily properties can cost around $1 million.
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Access to nearby parks, beaches and athletic facilities
While the facilities at Castle Hill Park and Captain John Bertram Athletic Field offer recreational and green spaces within the neighborhood, Castle Hill boasts proximity to many of the area’s most popular parks. “Castle Hill is very close to a ton of parks in the area,” Bernal says. “You have four or five parks within a few minutes’ drive.” Forest River Park on Pickering Point is 2 miles east and features rocky riverfront beaches, a children’s playground and a public pool that is open seasonally. Salem Woods Highland Park sits adjacent to Castle Hill and offers marked trails for nature hikes through acres of woodland. The Salem Parkway Multi-Use Path runs through the neighborhood and connects south to the Marblehead Rail Trail and north into Downtown.
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Annual Arts Festival and historic cultural attractions
While the hordes of Halloween visitors make October the city’s busiest month, Salem offers events and social gatherings for its residents year-round. “Everything happens centrally in Salem, mostly around the common and outdoor mall,” Bernal says. Once used for militia training, the Salem Common hosts regular events for all ages, including exhibits, live music series and more. One of Salem’s largest events takes place in Derby Square, the city’s centermost plaza by the Old Town Hall. For a weekend in June, the square fills vendors and exhibits as part of the Salem Arts Festival. The annual fest celebrates art in all forms, from dance and film to music and painting, with a slew of stacked performances and presentations throughout the weekend.Castle Hill’s proximity to Downtown offers residents easy access to the city’s many cultural attractions, including famed institutions like the Salem Witch Museum and The Witch House, where visitors can delve into the history of the Salem Witch Trials and the city’s past. Other spooky attractions include the International Monster Museum and the many Hocus Pocus movie shoot locations around Salem. Peabody Essex Museum houses a vast collection of modern art and artifacts.
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Strong academics within Salem Public School District
Kids in Castle Hill may attend schools within the Salem Public School District, which earns a C-plus from Niche. Horace Mann Laboratory serves kindergarten through fifth grade and funnels into Collins Middle School. Both earn a C grade. At Salem High School, students may opt into Advanced Placement classes or participate in the high school’s Programming and Web Development program. The high school earns a B-minus from Niche. Parents may also send their kids to top-rated private schools in the area, including the A-plus-rated Tower School, which serves prekindergarten through eighth grade. Castle Hill is also close to Salem State University, the oldest and largest public institution in higher education on the North Shore.
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Balance between Downtown eateries and convenient big-box retailers
While a few local eateries and shops cluster within Salem’s city center, Bernal says Castle Hill residents usually shop on the city’s outskirts. Shopping plazas along Highland Avenue provide plenty of convenient retail and grocery options, including Walmart, Market Basket, T.J. Maxx and Target. In Downtown Salem, restaurants sit shoulder-to-shoulder in historic brick buildings with charming painted facades. Eateries ranging from elevated lounges to casual stalwarts span cultural tastes. Menus features Indian, American, Mexican and more. Mainstays include the New England Soup Factory, Boston Burger Company and Front Street Coffeehouse, known for its cozy exposed brick interior and specialty drinks. Within Castle Hill, the Tin Whistle sits tucked among residential streets, offering classic American pub fare and outdoor seating. Other favorites closer to home include Far From The Tree Cidery and On the Grind Café.
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Commuting to Boston by train and car
The Newburyport/Rockport Line serves the Salem train station and connects commuters to Boston in about 30 minutes. Buses also serve the station, linking commuters to stops around the city. Residents are close to major thoroughfares like Interstates 95 and 93, and US Route 1. Drivers can link to Boston, 26 miles south, via these highways in under an hour during typical driving conditions. Castle Hill also boasts proximity to Salem Hospital, which sits adjacent to the neighborhood and serves as another draw for residents.
Written By
Christina von Claparede-Crola
Photography Contributed By
Amanda Beattie
Video By
Jacob Branchaud
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Juan Jaramillo
Juan Jaramillo
Century 21 Mario Real Estate
(857) 353-6734
46 Total Sales
1 in Castle Hill
$560,000 Price
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Amy Jalbert
Amy Jalbert
Leading Edge Real Estate
(978) 690-4595
22 Total Sales
1 in Castle Hill
$515,000 Price
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Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Keller Williams Realty Evolution
(978) 515-6286
35 Total Sales
1 in Castle Hill
$630,000 Price
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Kristin Weekley
Kristin Weekley
Responds QuicklyLeading Edge Real Estate
(351) 666-8379
252 Total Sales
1 in Castle Hill
$680,000 Price
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Melissa Dias Lopes
Melissa Dias Lopes
Responds QuicklyJ. Barrett & Company
(857) 816-8118
144 Total Sales
1 in Castle Hill
$670,000 Price
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The Reference Group
TR
The Reference Group
Responds QuicklyReference Real Estate
(351) 666-4678
272 Total Sales
1 in Castle Hill
$667,500 Price
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
Forest River Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
Castle Hill Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Playground
Salem Woods Highland Park
- Trails
- Parking Lot
- Hiking
Broad Street Playground
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Trails
St. Annes Park
- Trails
Bunny Puttman Park
Captain John Bertram Athletics Field
Transit
Castle Hill Demographics and Home Trends
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$1,750,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,750,000
Last 12 months Home Sales
0
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$525
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
345
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1951
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,578
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,665
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
907
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
584
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,662
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
983
Median Age
45
Population under 18
20.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.3%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$63,962
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$83,004
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.5%
College Graduates
48.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.3%
% Population in Labor Force
71.6%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
48''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
26''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
51
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
59
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
30
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
South Salem
Historic neighborhood with modern amenities along Salem Harbor
Marblehead
Historic charm and a quieter vibe less than 20 miles from Boston
Peabody Town Center
Small North Shore city packed with history and restaurants
Fays Estate
Urban residential area on the site of a former summer estate
Chatham Street
Historic homes and close-knit neighbors just minutes north of Boston
Eastern Avenue
Blue-collar commuting neighborhood north of Boston
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