$395,734Average Value$267Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
A former industrial town with historic homes
First settled around the 1750s as an industrial town, Winchendon maintains a connection to its roots through a network of historical organizations, preserved homes, and supernatural entities. The proliferation of toy manufacturers led to the nickname “Toy Town,” a moniker kept alive by local entities like The Toy Town Barber Shop, Toy Town Car Wash and Toy Town Elementary. “It harkens back to an older time,” says Mark Kavanagh, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty North Central. “It’s like being in the 50s in some ways. People are proud of their community, they go to the parades, it’s got that ‘Wonder Years’ type of feel.”
Many of the former toy manufacturing buildings sit abandoned in Winchendon.
Former toy factories next to Hunts Pond in Winchendon glow as the sun sets.
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Celebrations, past and present
This small community has big stories to tell, and the Winchendon Historical Society helps to keep them alive through exhibits, ghost tours and themed escape rooms. Two iconic homes, the Murdock-Whitney House and the Isaac Morse House, were once inhabited by esteemed town figures ranging from manufacturers to physicians; today, they are meticulously preserved as relics of the town’s past lives. The Issac Morse House serves as a toy museum, showing examples of the town’s manufacturing history. It also hosts a retro ice cream shop called Seppie’s that serves old-fashioned banana splits . Today, the town of Winchendon hosts numerous community events to bring neighbors together. Taste of Winchendon is an annual festival featuring raffle contests, local vendors, and live music for residents to enjoy, “They bring around 40 different food trucks as well as entertainment, and it pulls a big crowd to town,” says Michelle Peterson, Winchendon local and Realtor with Elm Grove Realty. Another much-anticipated event is the annual Fall Festival, which includes food trucks, live music, a bike rodeo and a pie-eating contest.
From the 17th century to the 1990s
Many of Winchendon’s homes are as old the mid-1750s, with most of its more contemporary development happening in the 1980s. According to the census, the population jumped by 25 percent from 1980 to 1990, compared to an average 3-to-5 percent growth in the previous decades. Before that, the largest period of growth happened between 1860 and 1870, where the population increased by nearly 30 percent. Peterson attributes that growth in part to the manufacturers in operation during the time. “These manufacturers were behind a lot of the developments in town to house workers,” she says. “This is where many of those historic homes we see today came from.”
Today, single-family homes in Winchendon range from $200,000 to $500,000, with prices depending on the age and square footage of the house. Multifamily developments and empty lots for sale appeal to a range of buyers. A drive through Winchendon reveals its foursquare, split-level colonial and Cape Cod residences, nestled on grid-patterned streets with modest and prevalent sidewalks.
A brick foursquare style home with a screened-in porch in Winchendon has a large yard.
A saltbox style home has a medium sized yard in Winchendon.
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Businesses line up on Central Avenue
There may only be around 10,000 residents within Winchendon, but they have an impressive array of choices for commerce. Unlike a lot of towns with that population, it has a lot of businesses and shops, which the locals appreciate,” Kavanagh says. Along Central Street, residents can walk to four different pizza places that dish up pies, pasta and wings. Christos Place serves steak and cheese in sandwich and pizza form, while Two Foxes Farm Pizza a block away offers “Tuscan Grill” offerings like a boneless strip steak as well as wood-fired pizza and sandwiches. Like any small town main street, Central also has a locally-owned hardware store, Belletes Building Material. In addition to providing lumber and tools, the shop also coordinates the We Build It Forward (WBIF) Community Outreach Program, where tradesmen and volunteers get together to handle projects for community members in need. For farm-fresh ingredients, Not Just Produced is a one-stop grocery shop serving prepared meals, baked goods, and locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce. They are also a regular vendor in the Taste of Winchendon festival.
A strip of local stores on Main Street in Winchendon.
A historic brownstone in Winchendon's town center now houses a dance studio and clothing store.
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A central escape at Winchendon Community Park
One of the biggest appeals of the Winchendon area is the amount of green space that insulates the community. Parks and protected spaces create a buffer of natural boundaries around the town, creating a tranquility that’s appreciated by the locals. Smaller green spaces like Monument Park and Cannon Memorial Park offer mid-day retreats for downtown workers seeking a picnic setting for lunch, while Winchendon Community Park offers a disc golf course that’s still under development and a venue for events like a summer concert series, movie nights, and themed family events. At Whitney Pond, residents can fish for anything from largemouth bass to chain pickerel and trout. The North Central Pathway off of Hall Road is a 3.5-mile stretch of paved trail for walkers and cyclists to explore.
The Winchendon Farmers' Market is every Thursday from 3pm-7pm.
Winchendon Community Park has a beautiful scenic path that residents can walk along.
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The Devils wear blue at Winchendon Public Schools
The township of Winchendon is served by the Winchendon Public Schools district. Students may attend Memorial Elementary School, rated a B-minus on Niche, or Toy Town Elementary School, which has a C rating. From there, they’ll move on to Murdock Middle, where students can participate in the Summit Learning program where they receive one-on-one counseling from mentors. The school has a C rating. Murdock High is home of the locally beloved Blue Devils football team and has a C-plus rating.
Sign for both Murdock Middle and High school in Winchendon.
Murdock High School is a public school located in WINCHENDON.
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Written By
Caitlin Coakley
Photography Contributed By
Matt Barrett
Video By
Benjamin Rose
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Sharie Warila,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Winchendon, MA sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Winchendon, MA over the last 12 months is $230,000, down 40% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Be the first to own this completed and brand new 1,834' Colonial nestled off the road on 2.7 acres in a serene corner lot setting. This home features an open concept first floor with a spacious living room, dining area, and mudroom. The mudroom has half bath and custom bench. The kitchen features quartz countertops, a matching backsplash, Maple cabinetry and an island—perfect for entertaining.
COMPLETED brand new construction Doyle Estates with 1834’ of living area on 4 acres. This Colonial is set off the road with a beautiful setting surrounded by wooded privacy. Some features include an open concept floor plan, LVP flooring, a large living room and a mudroom with a custom built in bench & storage. The mudroom also has a half bathroom. The open concept kitchen & separate dining area
This stunning country home sits on an expansive 1.7-acre lot, offering a spacious and welcoming atmosphere. The interior features two large living areas with cozy fireplaces, and the recently updated kitchen includes newer cabinets, black granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and tile flooring. It also has a formal dining room and a breakfast nook, making it perfect for hosting
Oversized 3 RM 1BR 1BA apartment with ground level tiled LR offering cathdral ceiling/ceiling fan, picture window, coat/utility closet. Step up a few oak stairtreads with oak balister/handrail to be lead into the open cabinet packed kitchen. Appliances include electric stove, refrigrator & dishwasher. Full bath w/shower only & pedastal sink, including washer/dryer hookups. Tenant to supply their
2 bedroom apartment on first floor, conveniently located near downtown Winchendon. $1,500 monthly rent includes HEAT, HOT WATER, WATER, WASHER/DRYER HOOKUPS, 1 OFF STREET PARKING SPACE, TRASH REMOVAL, SNOW REMOVAL FROM DRIVEWAY, GROUNDS MAINTENANCE. NO smoking, NO grills on porch. Good references a must. Group showing will be scheduled after review of applications.
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