$94,328Average Value$78Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes For Sale
A residential neighborhood just east of the train tracks
More than 100 years ago, Harvard Park was planned as a place where industrial and residential development would coexist. The train still rushes through an industrial sector in the northwest corner, but what was once a blue-collar suburb is now an urban residential area in the city center. The homes have strong structures but face the wear and tear of many years of use. "There's been a bit of a turnaround in recent years," says Sarah Quattrin Coombe, a Realtor with Keller Williams Capital who has sold homes in Harvard Park. "A lot of the homes have been remodeled and are really holding their value."
Harvard Park is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in the city.
This excellent mid century office plaza is an example of the beautiful architecture in the area.
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Older homes at affordable prices
Harvard Park is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in the city, with an average home price of $80,000 — less than half of the city's average. "It's about an equal mix of renters and owners, which you will see all throughout the older parts of Springfield," says Springfield native Eric Pedigo, a Realtor with The Real Estate Group. Homes date back to the mid-1900s, primarily bungalows with a few worker's cottages and American Foursquare houses. Fixer-uppers start at as low as $25,000, and newer renovated properties get up to $150,000. "You're getting into 70-plus-year-old houses, and they just built homes different back then — the woodworking, the historic layout," Pedigo says. "People really enjoy bringing those old homes back to life."
Harvard Park has an equal mix of renters and owners.
A row of homes in Harvard Park shows the charming nature of the neighborhood.
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Community centers and activism in Harvard Park
Harvard Park Baptist Church & Community Center is a faith-based institution that also works to serve the neighborhood as a whole. The church has Sunday school and regular services but also hosts clothing drives and a food pantry open to all. The church's community center building is also used for neighborhood association events. The Harvard Park Neighborhood Association (HPNA) aims to address residential concerns. In recent years, locals have been concerned about an uptick in trash-filled alleys and a lack of transparent garbage service in the neighborhood. The current mayor, Misty Buscher, heard the concerns from HPNA and currently prioritizes the issue as one of her top concerns. HPNA also has an active Facebook group used for event planning, listing items for sale, and chatting with neighbors.
Harvard Park Baptist Church is a community hub that brings the neighborhood together.
Harvard Park was planned as a place where industrial and residential development would coexist.
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Support at Harvard Elementary School
Young students are zoned to start at Harvard Park Elementary School, which gets a C-minus grade from Niche. It is walkable from many homes and is dedicated to creating a support network for the kids who attend. The Central Illinois Food Bank partners with the school to ensure no child goes hungry, sending bags of groceries home at afternoon pick-up. The school also has a mentorship program that pairs older students with first graders. Harvard Park grads are zoned for Jefferson Middle School, rated C, and Southeast High School, rated B-minus. Southeast High School is home to the Health & Science Academy, a specialty school for kids interested in a medical career path. The Academy partners with local institutions, including the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Memorial Hospital.
Springfield Southeast High School has a Niche score of B-.
Harvard Park Elementary School is an excellent public school for students PK-6.
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Train tracks make it hard to walk southwest
Harvard Park is bordered by railroad tracks on two sides, which add noise to the area and make it difficult to walk to nearby retail options. Directly south, County Market is a large grocery store surrounded by several chain restaurants, but locals have to drive to get there. To the northwest are a few smaller markets, including a Dollar General, within walking distance. And all homes in the neighborhood are within a few blocks of local dive bars. Spammy's is known for its welcoming service and boisterous game nights. Over at Felbers Tavern, there are horseshoe pits and poker machines.
Directly south of Harvard Park is County Market, a large grocery store
Cozy Dog Drive In is a memorabilia-laden counter-serve diner.
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Major roads and bus lines to downtown
Bus lines run down all the main streets around the neighborhood's border, so a stop is never more than four blocks away. The bus connects downtown in about 15 minutes and over to the medical center around St. John's and Memorial Hospitals in about 20 minutes. A system of overpasses means the train does not affect traffic at most intersections. For longer trips, South 5th Street and South 6th Street border the neighborhood, turning into Interstate 55 to the north and south. And the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport is just 6 miles away.
Live close to the downtown life just a short drive from Harvard Park.
The streets of Harvard Park are wide and easy to navigate.
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Bordering the Bunn Golf Course
Harvard Park is bordered on the east by the 18-hole Bunn Golf Course. The public course hosts several and is considered one of the most challenging in the area. Hobbes Park has softball and baseball diamonds across the road from the golf course. Iles Park, to the north of the neighborhood, has a pavilion, pickleball courts and a skate park. For indoor recreation, the nearby Rail Splitter Fitness Gym is a membership-only spot emphasizing personal training.
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Phil Chiles,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Iles Park
Union Square Park
Transit
Airport
Abraham Lincoln Capital
15 min drive
Bus
6th & Bryn Mawr
Bus
11th & Wellesley
Bus
6th & Broad Place
Bus
11th & Bryn Mawr
Bus
6th & Wellesley
Bus
11th & Ash
Bus
11th & Oberlin
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Harvard Park
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Harvard Park, Springfield sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Harvard Park, Springfield over the last 12 months is $91,995, up 14% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
COMING SOON 5/9! Wonderful first-time homebuyer opportunity with this pre-inspected home in Harvard Park Neighborhood. The freshly painted interior enhances the cleanliness and brightness of this cozy Bungalow. The unique oversized garage can accommodate up to four cars, plus room for other toys and tools. New service and overhead doors have been recently installed on the garage. A new roof was
2 Bdrm 1 Bath Bungalow on a corner lot. Brick/Vinyl gives a great aesthetic look. Home needs some TLC, but has good bones. Lots of natural light comes into the formal dining room. Nice kitchen cabinets with plenty of space to cook. Laundry hookups are in the kitchen. Basement has plenty of room for a workshop or craft room. Garage could use a new door, but is otherwise pretty nice, with pegboard
Great bungalow in Harvard Park. The open front porch is so inviting and a great place to relax after a hard day of work. Carpet on main level was new in 2024 & professionally cleaned Nov. 2024. The all white kitchen is appealing and can compliment all decorating styles. The bathroom is located on the main level is right next to the stairway leading up to the other bedroom. In the upper level
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Phil Chiles,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,783
Median Age
39
Population Density
8 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$58,133
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$75,015
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.1%
College Graduates
23.9%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.8%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
38''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
7''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
55/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
50/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
39/ 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.
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.
