$300,179Average Value$159Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
A historic and affordable Springfield community
The community of Brightwood is sandwiched between the Connecticut River and Interstate 91, a mere 2 miles from Downtown Springfield. “It’s a more historic neighborhood that provides affordability,” says Frantz Mathieu, a local Realtor with Executive Real Estate. After years of major flooding in the 1930s, residents of Brightwood were left to pick up the pieces of their community, relying on government agencies to rebuild what was left. Today, “People are drawn to the area because it’s near the hospital and offers easy access to the highway.” Though residents are conveniently positioned by the interstate, the thoroughfare can, at times, act as a barrier between Brightwood and its surrounding neighborhoods.
In home gardens can be seen throughout Brightwood frequently.
A row of homes in Brightwood with accompanying sidewalk invites residents to walk the town.
The Connecticut river is the closest body of water for Brightwood residents
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Traditional architecture by the Connecticut River
Traditional architecture is typical in Brightwood, lining residential streets in the form of bilevels, ranch-style homes, duplexes and custom builds. Many date back to the Works Progress Administration rebuilding period, a 1930s New Deal agency constructing homes to mitigate the neighborhood’s flood problem. Priced between $270,000 and $425,000, properties in the area go for well below average compared to the surrounding Springfield Metropolitan area. Homes rarely offer driveways, meaning residents typically park on the street out front. Cars rest beside interconnected sidewalks and fenced-in yards shaded by new and old-growth trees. Homes along Riverside Drive may even yield views of the Connecticut River or its neighboring Riverwalk and Bikeway, though homebuyers should note the strip’s potential flood risk. Additionally, Brightwood has a CAP Index Crime score of 9, compared to the national average of 4.
Beautiful single family and two family homes lines Brightwood streets
There are many beautiful homes near the curbs in Brightwood adding to curb appeal sentiment.
Flower laden homes aren't very common in Brightwood but they're beautiful when spotted.
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Neighboring Interstate 91
An elevated portion of I-91 separates Brightwood from the greater Springfield area. The thoroughfare heads south toward Hartford, Connecticut and north into Chicopee, with convenient access along Plainfield or Main Street. Springfield’s Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus stops are scattered throughout the community and are walkable from Plainfield, Sanderson and Clyde Street. The system requires a fare during the week but is free of charge on the weekends for those heading 2 miles south into Downtown Springfield. Baystate Medical Center sits about 1 mile east of Brightwood, offering an urgent care center even closer to home on Main Street. Those heading out of state fly out of Bradley International Airport, 21 miles south in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
Brightwood neighborhood is alongside the elevated portion of Interstate 91 in Springfield.
Brightwood neighborhood is alongside the elevated portion of Interstate 91 in Springfield.
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School choice with Springfield Public Schools
Families in Brightwood are offered school choice with Springfield Public Schools, primarily beginning at Brightwood Elementary, a walkable school with a C-minus on Niche. With the same grade, German Gerena Community School is a magnet institution with a similar commute time. Chestnut Middle School is next door to Brightwood’s Springfield City Library branch, earning a C-minus on Niche. There, students can enroll in an accelerated talented and gifted program that, on its own, earns a B-minus. Springfield Central High School is known for its Advanced Placement courses. Considered the largest high school in western Massachusetts, Springfield Central enrolls more than 2,000 students and earns a B on Niche.
German Gerena Community School
is a large beautiful campus with a great expressive painting.
Chestnut Middle School is one of the best schools in the boundaries of Brightwood neighborhood.
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Brightwood’s Puerto Rican eats
Brightwood rests 2 miles north of Downtown Springfield, allowing residents proximity to the city’s well-loved haunts, shops and grocery stores. Theodore’s Booze, Blues and BBQ is known for slow-cooked pulled pork, beef brisket and Texas sausage. The 30-year-old eatery and club prides itself on its rotating roster of live musicians. The Blues Foundation even named it the “Best Blues Club in the Country” back in 2004—an honor still talked about 20 years later. A handful of South American eats are closer to home, including sandwiches and pastries from the Puerto Rico Bakery on Main. Next door, Latino’s Kitchen is a cafeteria-style spot serving large plates of authentic Spanish cuisine. Similarly, El Sazón Criollo adds pizza to its expansive menu of Puerto Rican specialties. As for the essentials, Punto Market, 90 Meat Outlet, Family Dollar and Costco Wholesale are within a mile of most homes.
Theodores BBQ is a great meeting place in Springfield.
Patrons enjoy a beverage at Theodores BBQ.
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The Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway
Kenefick Park stretches from Clark to Division, a 12-acre green space in the heart of Brightwood. Walking paths weave around the playground, baseball diamonds and open field space, which are situated within a few blocks of most homes—particularly those of the Springfield Housing Authority. Closer to the water, the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway spans nearly 4 miles along the river’s eastern corridor. Locals can walk, jog, cycle or even rollerblade south towards Downtown Springfield while taking in scenic views of the water.
Kenefick park sign invites residents to the 12 acre greenspace.
The Pavilion in Kenefick Park keeps residents cool on warmer days
Kenefick park is the main greenspace in Brightwood.
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Houses of Worship in Brightwood
Brightwood is home to various spiritual centers within walking distance of many residences. Templo Evangelistico Pentecostal is located on Orchard Street, a Pentecostal church providing services in Spanish. Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is a towering brick structure farther north on Plainfield Street. The community also houses the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the intersection of Sanderson and Whiting Street.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is in Springfield.
MGM Casio is just down the road from Brightwood Neighborhood.
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Celebrating the Latino Arts Festival
Each September, families in Brightwood flock to Memorial Avenue for the Eastern States Exhibition, also known as The Big E. The 17-day annual fair features rides, exhibits, vendors, live performances and even a petting zoo. Held just 2 miles west of the community, The Big E attracts hundreds of thousands of guests each year. The Latino Arts Festival, hosted by Springfield Museums, is held the same month, celebrating the Puerto Rican, Cuban, Afro-Cuban, Portuguese, Mexican, Dominican, and Central and South American populations of Springfield. Over the holiday season, Forest Park hosts the annual Bright Nights drive-thru. “Bright Nights is one of the biggest events for the community during the holidays,” Mathieu says, describing the 3-mile drive showcasing more than 700,000 lights. “People come from all over for it.” Since 1995, Bright Nights has seen seven million visitors and counting.
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
Cynthia Gonzalez,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
River Front Park
Bike Trails
Trails
Playground
Sprinklers
Leonardo da Vinci Park
North Riverfront Park
Veterans Field
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Football
Emily Bill Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Trails
Kenefick Park
Transit
Airport
Bradley International
31 min drive
Bus
Plainfield & Wason
Bus
Plainfield & Talcott
Bus
Plainfield & Lowell
Bus
Clyde & M (2)
Bus
Clyde & Plainfield
Bus
Plainfield & Clayton
Bus
50 Wason Avenue
Brightwood Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Brightwood, Springfield sell after 3 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Brightwood, Springfield over the last 12 months is $60,000, down 88% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$134,500
Median Sale Price
$60,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$60,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$1,000,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
50%
Last 12 months Home Sales
3
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-88%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$159
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
254
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
1956
Months of Supply
4.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,410
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,308
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
817
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,840
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cynthia Gonzalez,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,644
Median Age
32
Population Density
12 ppl/acre
Population under 18
32%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$16,710
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$36,376
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
57.6%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
7.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.1%
% Population in Labor Force
34.9%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
51''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
27''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
65/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
69/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
67/ 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.
