West End/Bristol

Route 6 is a highway that is dear to the hearts of many New Englanders. It is a central transportation artery for the region, and directions to many destinations in the area are known by their exit off the highway. One of those destinations is the West End/Bristol neighborhood of Bristol, Connecticut. Located just south of the West Street exit off Route 6, West End/Bristol is a neighborhood that features comparatively affordable price points and plenty of amenities. “There are a lot of multi-family investment properties in the neighborhood, but there are also some great single-family homes,” says Realtor Doreen Corriveau, who has been representing real estate transactions in the area for over 20 years. In addition to its lower cost of housing, West End/Bristol offers residents easy access to one of the area’s premier parks and a historic baseball stadium that has seen the likes of Babe Ruth and other sports legends. Multiple CTtransit bus stops in the neighborhood make it easier for those without their own transportation to get around, and the neighborhood’s proximity to Route 6 means that residents can easily get just about anywhere in the Nutmeg State or beyond.

With housing options ranging from cozy condominiums to multi-floor neo-classical-influenced houses, there are plenty of styles from which buyers can choose. Many of the houses in the neighborhood are designed for multi-family living, meaning each floor of the house is its own home-within-the-house; most of the single-family homes in the area are ranch-styles. The median price of real estate in West End/Bristol is $241,000, and buyers should expect to pay around $200 per square foot. A one-bedroom/one-bathroom condominium can sell for around $84,000, and a sprawling six-bedroom/three-bathroom multi-family postmodern home can fetch upwards of $373,000. A typical single-family three-bedroom/two-bathroom ranch-style home sells for around $255,000.

West End/Bristol is districted to the Bristol School District, which receives an overall rating of B-plus from Niche. Students in the neighborhood can attend West Bristol School, Chippens Hill Middle and Bristol Central High School. West Bristol and Chippens Hill both earn a B-minus rating from Niche, and Bristol Central High School earns an A-minus. Bristol Central is well-known for its athletic prowess, counting Olympic and professional athletes among its alums. The school’s principal, Peter Winninger, was named the Best Principal in the United States by Varsity Brands in 2017. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of private school options in the area, including the nearby Taft School, which receives an A-plus rating from Niche.

Even though it is a primarily urban neighborhood, West End/Bristol offers residents access to superb outdoor recreational opportunities the neighborhood. In the western corner of the neighborhood is Rockwell Park, which features a playground, splash pad, skate park, dog park, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, basketball and volleyball courts and picnic areas. The park also has a pond where residents can while away a summer afternoon or ice-skate when the pond freezes in the winter. Next to Rockwell Park is Muzzy Field Park, home of the Bristol Blues, a summer collegiate baseball team whose season runs from the beginning of June to the end of July, and offers family-friendly entertainment for a very affordable ticket price.

For groceries, neighborhood residents head to Price Chopper in Bristol Commons, located about a mile-and-a-half northeast of the neighborhood. Bristol Commons is also home to a Planet Fitness, which offers personal training, fitness classes and individual workout opportunities in their fully-furnished facility that is open 24 hours a day. Walmart and other retail stores are located about 5 miles east of the neighborhood on Route 6. Stores like T. J. Maxx and Burlington are both in the same vicinity as Walmart. When cooking at home isn’t on the day’s agenda, residents like to head to Jimmy’s on the River, where they can get breakfast and lunch served in a casual environment. Whether it’s one of their breakfast specials or build-your-own-sandwiches, Jimmy’s has been a neighborhood favorite since opening in 2008. West End Pizza is also a favorite with residents because people love the no-frills atmosphere and the excellent pizza and grinders.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Ed Messenger

Video By

Mark Tilley