With a name like “Waterford”, it’s fitting that there would be several spots around town to swim, fish and take the boat out. In fact, it’s what gives Waterford its character. The town is surrounded by rivers on nearly all sides, with docks and boats frequently seen around town, and brims with beautiful vistas. It's also located in a unique part of the region because of its temperatures. Greg Hanner, broker/ owner of Garden Realty and Waterford resident for over 30 years, explains: "When you get ten miles inland, the temperatures are hotter in the summer, but we’re ten degrees cooler in Waterford. During the winter, we’re ten degrees warmer so we lose the snow quicker when there are storms." Made up of 33 square miles in southeastern Connecticut, it makes for a picturesque portrait of coastal New England.
Putting the "water" in Waterford
Waterford Beach Park is just one example of the town’s natural beauty. "It has almost a Cape Cod feel because you have to go up and over a sand dune. It looks out at Long Island Sound and the mouth of the Thames River. You can see ferry traffic and submarines going by. You see Fisher’s Island, New York from off the beach," Hanner says. Many fishermen, photographers, birdwatchers and kite-fliers are also drawn to Harkness Memorial State Park, which has an elegant historic mansion and several gardens to explore. Rocky Neck State Park, with its 710 acres of beach and coastal thicket, is eight miles away in nearby Niantic.
Theater, history tours and more
Whether it’s theatrical, historical or religious, Waterford has plenty of spots to provide culture for its residents. The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center is an award-winning performance venue that has hosted many shows and national theater conferences. The Waterford Historical Society gives tours and puts on living-history events. On weekends, residents can browse the collections at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum or see the car races at the New London-Waterford Speed Bowl racetrack. In addition to its books and audio/ visual materials, the Waterford Public Library also has jigsaw puzzles, ukuleles, metal detectors and museum passes available. Residents who practice faith can attend services at several churches within the area.
Dining and shopping in Waterford
Dining in Waterford can be a fun experience and no eatery demonstrates this quite like When Pigs Fly Café. Presenting home-cooked delicacies throughout the year like pumpkin bread French toast in the fall and summertime peach cobbler, this breakfast restaurant is beloved by the community- so much, in fact, that some of the menu selections are named after their customers. For daily essentials, grocery shoppers can head to BJ's Club, Target and Walmart Supercenter, all of which are centrally located for convenience. Crystal Mall, also centrally located, houses many familiar brands for apparel, jewelry and gifts.
Homes down by the waterside
The residential areas in Waterford are populated with clusters of colonial-style and ranch-styles. Prices begin around $180,000 for a house with one or two bedrooms. They can go as high as two million for waterside properties with five bedrooms and four-and-a-half-baths. Homes sell after an average of 33 days on the market, which is considerably lower than the national average of 42 days. The average sale price of $396,642 has increased 13% from the previous average in the last twelve months, as of March 2024. The housing market has been steadily trending upward, with prices remaining well below the national average but higher than the average in the county.
Waterford Public Schools
School-age children can attend schools in the Waterford School District. The district earned an A-minus rating from Niche and is counted among the top five in the county. One such example of their high performance is Waterford High School, offering courses in art, career and technical education and four languages, including American Sign Language. Students looking to higher education can attend Mitchell College or Connecticut College, both in nearby New London.
Transportation and other important services
Waterford has connections to two major highways. Interstate 95 is the longest north-south interstate, spanning over 1,000 miles and passing through 15 different states. Interstate 395, a spur of I-95, links Connecticut north to Massachusetts and is the only spur of I-95 in the state. The town is 43 miles away from state capital Hartford and 60 miles from Providence, Rhode Island. Lawrence + Memorial Hospital is less than four miles away for residents who need medical services quickly.
Sustainability and crime rates
When living in the area, there are a few environmental conditions that residents should keep in mind. Data from Risk Factor suggests there are moderate risks for wildfire and poor air quality, major risk for severe heat and extreme risk for high winds. Conscious of its environmental impact, the town has a Conservation Commission and was awarded a Bronze Certification by Sustainable CT for its excellence in sustainability efforts. In the field of crime prevention and law enforcement, Waterford is served by the Waterford Police Department (WPD). The WPD’s patrols cover a variety of areas, including the town and the Thames and Niantic Rivers and Long Island Sound. The crime rate has been on a downward trend. In 2021, the WPD reported a total of 11 violent crimes and 11 offenses to the FBI’S National Incident-Based Reporting System. The following year, five crimes and five offenses were accounted for.
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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.
