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Heart of the Westside

Heart of the Westside

$130,012 Average Value
$145 Average Price per Sq Ft
21 Homes For Sale

Springfield’s beating Heart

Tucked between BNSF rail yards to the north and steel manufacturer Paul Mueller Co. to the south, Heart of the Westside beats in Springfield. “I lived there with my husband and child,” says Councilwoman Monica Horton, who represents Heart of the Westside and other Zone 1 neighborhoods on the Springfield City Council, “we loved to take walks in the neighborhood dreaming big about our future goals.” Featuring a convenient location close to downtown and major routes, affordable housing, and nearby jobs at BNSF, Purina Mills and other surrounding industry, Heart of the Westside offers opportunity and potential for growth.

Chestnut Expressway runs along the southern edge of the Heart of the Westside.
Chestnut Expressway runs along the southern edge of the Heart of the Westside.
A major employer with a long history in Springfield, BNSF is a big part of Heart of the Westside.
A major employer with a long history in Springfield, BNSF is a big part of Heart of the Westside.
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Home is where the Heart is

Compact and simple homes sit behind fences, lining the streets of the Heart of the Westside. Homes consist mainly of minimalist traditional designs, bungalows and ranch-style homes built in the early and mid-1900s, most offering under 1,000 square feet of space. On-street parking is common, with off-street parking spots generally being unpaved and garages being rare. This makes it a popular starter-home neighborhood, says Murney Associates Realtor Dustin Langston. “It’s a lower-price-point neighborhood in Springfield, if not one of the lowest. That would be a great spot for someone to find a home that is affordable.” Most homes in the neighborhood sell for in between $90,000 and $160,000, with new builds and fully renovated properties touching $200,000. Councilwoman Horton points out that the neighborhood is currently undergoing development, as modern townhouses are being constructed for further housing options.

Homes in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood Include brick, wood and stone facades.
Homes in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood Include brick, wood and stone facades.
A simple and well-maintained ranch style home in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood.
A simple and well-maintained ranch style home in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood.
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Convenience to the region

The Bus, run by CU Transit, provides public transportation to the neighborhood, stopping along Nichols. Quiet side streets make it a bikeable neighborhood, and residents can reach downtown on bike within minutes. A car is necessary for most errands though. Springfield-Branson National Airport is 5 miles northwest, generally less than a 10-minute drive, while emergency care is only 2 miles away at Cox North Hospital, making Heart of the Westside a conveniently located neighborhood. Horton says bringing a grocery store into the neighborhood is a current focus for her on city council. In the meantime, a Price Cutter and a Walmart are roughly 2 miles away.

Public transportation provides several bus stops inside Heart of the Westside.
Public transportation provides several bus stops inside Heart of the Westside.
Heart of the Westside residents have convenient access to Springfield–Branson National Airport.
Heart of the Westside residents have convenient access to Springfield–Branson National Airport.
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A park built for everyone

The heart of the Heart of the Westside is undoubtedly Nichols Park. “Nichols Park is where our child first learned to ride a bike and roller skate,” says Horton. Ringed by trees, the park features an innovative ADA-accessible playground so that all children, including those with disabilities, can play on its yellow swing set, glide down its blue slides and gaze through its interactive kaleidoscope. Well-kept green space features soccer and baseball fields as well as courts for tennis and pickleball.

The Nichols Park sign welcomes residents with plenty of outdoor activities.
The Nichols Park sign welcomes residents with plenty of outdoor activities.
The playground equipment at Nichols Park is ADA accessible for children in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood.
The playground equipment at Nichols Park is ADA accessible for children in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood.
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Priceless school experiences

Most students in Heart of the Westside will attend York Elementary to start, although some will head to Bissett. The former gets a B-minus from Niche, while the latter earns a C-plus. Bissett students move to Westport for middle school, which gets a C rating; York students meanwhile progress to Pipkin Middle School, which earns a C-plus. One of eleven high schools in Missouri to offer the IB Diploma Programme, Central High School gets an A-minus from Niche – it’s also the highest-rated high school in Springfield.

The York Elementary School located in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood offers kindergarten through 5th grade education.
The York Elementary School located in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood offers kindergarten through 5th grade education.
Bissett Elementary boasts a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1.
Bissett Elementary boasts a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1.
Pipkin Middle School provides public education for students grades 6th through 8th.
Pipkin Middle School provides public education for students grades 6th through 8th.
Westport K-8 School is located in central west Springfield.
Westport K-8 School is located in central west Springfield.
Central High School has been graduating students since 1894.
Central High School has been graduating students since 1894.
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Downtown events a short trip away

Many of the neighborhood events are provided by the faith-based organizations in the neighborhood, says Councilwoman Horton, “Our family participated in summer and cultural activities provided by Deliverance Temple Ministries – it was important for our quality of life and sense of connectedness to the community.” Residents also participate in the events in Downtown Springfield put on by the city, like the annual Mayor’s Tree Lighting Holiday Show and Wingapalooza every November.

Heart of the Westside is a short drive on Chestnut Expressway to downtown Springfield.
Heart of the Westside is a short drive on Chestnut Expressway to downtown Springfield.
The Deliverance Temple Ministries is an important part of the Heart of the Westside community.
The Deliverance Temple Ministries is an important part of the Heart of the Westside community.
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An involved association

The Heart of the Westside Neighborhood Association is heavily involved in the community. “The neighborhood has a welcoming neighborhood association where dues are only $5 a year and members come by and pickup brush, trash, and large unwanted furniture to keep the neighborhood attractive,” Horton mentions. It’s a sense of community that helps welcome new residents and create community amongst current homeowners.

The Heart of the Westside neighborhood is a surrounded by industry and major travel corridors.
The Heart of the Westside neighborhood is a surrounded by industry and major travel corridors.
Nichols Park offers Heart of the Westside residents a green space for outdoor activity.
Nichols Park offers Heart of the Westside residents a green space for outdoor activity.
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Andrew Tyson
Written By
Andrew Tyson
Kenyon Gerbrandt
Photography Contributed By
Kenyon Gerbrandt
Conar McDaniel
Video By
Conar McDaniel

Agents Specializing in this Area

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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

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Springfield-Branson Ntl

18 min drive

Reviews

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Heart of the Westside Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$139,000
Median Sale Price
$130,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$130,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
6%
Last 12 months Home Sales
66
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$145

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
1,431
Number of Homes for Sale
21
Median Year Built
1950
Months of Supply
3.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
999
Significantly below the national average
1,929
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,850
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
8,276

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
3,505
Median Age
37
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
25.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$35,590
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$46,379

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
80.2%
College Graduates
5.4%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
57%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
45''
Average Winter Low Temperature
25°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
21''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

57 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

21 / 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

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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Heart of the Westside
Zac Albers
Albers Real Estate Group
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