$1,580,723Average Value$731Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
The road to the sea is a great place to walk in the Acoaxet neighborhood.
Just south of the fork in the road
With the publication of “The Preppy Handbook” in 1980, the word “summer” morphed from a noun into a verb, as in, “I prefer to summer in the Northeast.” But long before author Lisa Birnbach celebrated the glories of boarding schools and madras pants, people were indeed summering in Acoaxet, a secluded spot on the southwest coast of Massachusetts. “It’s a place where you can escape,” says Stefanie Carr, a Realtor with Lila Delman Compass. “You can be a high-profile person but still go unnoticed here.” And fortunately, it’s not hard to find. It’s just a matter of driving south on Old Harbor Drive to the (literal) fork in the road.
Originally established as a farming community, Acoaxet became a sort of summer colony by the late 19th century. Wealthy families built summer homes in the area; they were attracted to the scenery, the cool temperatures and the secluded nature of the spit of land that bordered Rhode Island to the west and the Westport River to the east. That tradition continues today, as Acoaxet’s population swells by more than 25% during the summer months, as visitors and seasonal residents flock to the small town, themselves attracted by the same qualities that brought the original summer residents. But this sleepy community also serves as home to roughly 16,000 year-round residents, hardy souls who endure what can be, at times, brutal winter weather.
Beach or boat passages along the Acoaxet waterfront are a pleasant diversion.
The great outdoors in Acoaxet
Leisure activities – especially summer leisure activities – are the true distinguishing feature of Acoaxet. Most of the beaches in Acoaxet are private, as Massachusetts property laws dictate that waterfront property owners own the land in front of their homes to the mean low-tide line. However, there are two private clubs – the Elephant Rock Beach Club and the Atlantic Beach Club – that offer beach access to members, along with other benefits like cabanas, changing rooms and restroom facilities. There is also a public beach on Atlantic Avenue along Acoaxet’s southern coast, which is staffed by lifeguards during the summer season. At the Acoaxet Club, members can enjoy the golf course and tennis courts. Sailors congregate at the Spindle Rock Club, which offers a comprehensive youth sailing program along with adult instruction and racing. Recreation here also includes more terrestrial-based sites, including the 80-acre Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge. The refuge’s 2 miles of trails pass through upland and wetland habitats, home to a variety of local wildlife.
Quiet seaside homes and charming ponds dot the Acoaxet neighborhood.
A limited housing supply
With the high demand in Acoaxet paired with the supreme waterfront views, those seeking to buy here will have to be patient, and they’ll have to pay a premium when a house comes on the market. The average home goes under contract within six days, meaning they’ll have to act fast, too. The median home price here is around $2.3 million, and buyers can expect to pay an average of $687 per square foot. A three-bedroom/one-bathroom ranch-style home can sell for around $850,000, with prices going up to $2.5 million for a three-bedroom/three-bathroom farmhouse-style home on the water.
Westport Middle School and Westport High School are housed in the same building with excellence.
Westport Schools district earn a B
Acoaxcet is served by Westport Schools, which earns an overall rating of B from Niche. Westport Elementary School and Westport Junior/Senior High School both earn a B-minus. The merged Junior/Senior High School opened in 2021 following the completion of a $97 million renovation. Students there can participate in any of over 20 school-sponsored clubs and they have the opportunity to play 16 varsity-level sports. Parents also have multiple private school options in the area, including nearby Portsmouth Abbey School, which earns an A-plus rating from Niche.
The Barn Restaurant serves homestyle breakfasts in a rustic 2-story renovated barn near Acoaxet.
To eat, drink and shop, a trek may be necessary
The remote nature that is so much of Acoaxcet’s appeal comes with the drawback of a lack of nearby shopping and dining establishments. For groceries, locals here make the 6-mile trip north to Lee’s Market. Shopping for household necessities requires a little longer trip, as the nearest Walmart is 25 miles away in Newport, Rhode Island. For dining out, though, locals don’t have to travel quite so far. The Barn, just over the Rhode Island border in Little Compton, serves hearty breakfast every day until noon, and The Westporter has been serving farm-to-table specialties with a global flair since 1992.
Take the Fork in the Road in the Acoaxet neighborhood.
The iconic Acoaxet fork in the road
About that fork in the road. The wooden sculpture that has become something of a local icon is hard to miss, given that it’s about 10 feet tall. It was installed by area resident Tom Schmitt in 2010, and today serves as a sort of artistic welcome to Acoaxcet. Schmitt adorns the fork with various holiday costumes, too, including a hotdog for the Fourth of July, a Santa hat at Christmas and a heart for Valentine’s Day. But whichever way a driver chooses to go at the fork, they’ll still end up in this quiet and secluded coastal neighborhood.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Acoaxet, Westport sell after 80 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Acoaxet, Westport over the last 12 months is $1,900,000, down 24% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
In the heart of Acoaxet, tucked along a private lane that follows the eastern shore of Richmond Pond, Water View Haven enjoys a commanding southwest orientation with sweeping UNOBSTRUCTED views across Richmond Pond, the barrier beach, and out to the Atlantic Ocean. Designed by Yankee Barn and constructed in 2020 to exceptional standards, this Post and Beam home blends timeless coastal design with
1.67 Acres available in Acoaxet. Just a mile from The beach, This is a perfect place to build your dream home. Situated in a small subdivision, this property is at the end, on the cul-de-sac. Very private location. The property is wooded, but has been perked. HOA is $350/yr.
Beautiful 1.4 acre Westport Harbor homesite available with over 150' of frontage along Brayton Point Road with perc test in-hand. Fully treed for your selective clearing and exposure. Easterly views over Richmond Pond and Buzzards Bay that bring wonderful summer breezes to your doorstep. Located within minutes to local beaches, golfing, tennis, and equestrian stables!
Outstanding Summer Rental - Brayton Point Road / Acoaxet / Westport Harbor Area - private, improved waterfront acreage located on Richmond Pond; quiet, dead end road; property fronts on Richmond Pond; easterly & southerly water views over Richmond Pond to barrier beach and Howland Beach; Atlantic Ocean views to Cuttyhunk Island, Gay Head - easy access, walk to Atlantic Ocean beaches; hot
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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.
