Sandy Hill is Chicopee’s most residential-heavy neighborhood, attracting residents for more than 50 years to simple homes on moderately sized yards. Bonnie Roux, a Chicopee native and Realtor with ERA M. Connie Laplante Real Estate, says “what draws people to Sandy Hill in my line of work is it’s an established neighborhood, and the streets are walkable — not necessarily where there are sidewalks, but you see people walking and saying hi to their neighbors.” The community 3 miles north of Springfield, Massachusetts, is surrounded by interstates and business-heavy neighborhoods, meaning residents of its 800 homes are rarely more than a few minutes from a night out, a shopping run or their workplace.
Welcome to Chicopee!
Residence enjoy taking their dogs for walks in the Sandy Hill neighborhood.
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Homes with views
Ranches, split-levels and Cape Cod homes fill quarter-acre lots dotted with leafy trees most of the year. True to its name, Sandy Hill’s elevation provides glimpses of surrounding neighborhoods and natural features. “There are parts of Sandy Hill where you get nice views of Chicopee Center and the Holyoke mountain range,” Roux says. Houses usually cost between $250,000 and $375,000. Homes built since the 2010s are clustered on the south side, selling from $425,000 to $550,000. Despite the proximity to the Chicopee River, homes aren’t in federally designated flood zones.
Newer homes are being added to the neighborhood.
Cozy Cape Cod homes are abundant in Sandy Hill.
Front yards of flowers over flow to the sidewalk in Sandy Hill.
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Dining in Chicopee Center, shopping on Memorial Drive
Sandy Hill’s few businesses are concentrated along Grattan Street, where Arnold’s Meats sells pepper steaks and Italian sausages from a red barn. Immediately northwest of the neighborhood, restaurants line Grattan Street. Kyomi serves Asian fusion in a dining room lit by the soft glow of bulbs diffused through paper umbrellas lining the ceiling.
It’s about a mile to Memorial Drive, the city’s commercial artery. Shopping centers flank either side of the road, housing supermarkets, chain restaurants and big-box stores such as Walmart and The Home Depot. Mom-and-pop restaurants and cafes are bunched together in Chicopee Center, a neighborhood south of Sandy Hill that acts as the city’s downtown. Founded in 1918, Bernardino’s Bakery broke a world record in 2004 when it baked a 52-foot-long challah bread.
Roadside stands with fresh produce are found in Sandy Hill.
For a bite to eat, Munich Haus offers a taste of Germany.
The big red barn in Sandy Hill means you found Arnold's Meats market.
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City Hall in Sandy Hill is an Italianate style, with a rose window.
Car shows at Chicopee Knights of Columbus
A pair of local fraternal organization chapters meet on Granby Road in Sandy Hill. Chicopee Knights of Columbus hold martini nights and car shows at its building, while the Elks Lodge is known for its Tuesday bingo nights and themed dinners, such as French Night. Granby Road is also where Healing Hands of Light Spiritualist Church meets every Sunday. The group gathered in a Victorian church in Springfield until 2013 when MGM bought the property for its casino. To preserve the 129-year-old church, the casino in 2016 moved the 500-ton structure about two football fields away, and Healing Hands of Light Spiritualist Church relocated to Chicopee.
Parents get involved at Barry Elementary
Three public schools are within 2 miles of Sandy Hill. Barry Elementary School gets a C-plus grade from Niche, and it has an active parent-teacher organization sponsoring events such as Halloween trunk-or-treat. After fifth grade, children can go to C-rated 1st Sgt. Kevin A. Dupont Middle School. Many students advance to Chicopee Comprehensive High School; the B-rated school’s career and technical education courses include design technology, drafting and horticulture.
Chicopee High has a B rating and is well-regarded for its college prep in Sandy Hill.
Bellamy Middle School is an option for children in the Sandy Hill area.
Barry Elementary School is home to the Basset Hounds in Sandy Hill.
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Quick access to Szetela Park, Ray Ash Park, Garrity Grove
The Chicopee River flows on the south side of Sandy Hill, but it’s not used for recreation besides occasional fishing from the banks. Szetela Park handles baseball, softball, basketball and soccer games on its three fields. Garrity Grove less than a mile east of Sandy Hill opens a free spray park every summer, and nearby Ray Ash Park is where Little League softball teams often practice.
Take in the beauty of the Chicopee River in Sandy Hill.
Szetela Park is a great place to throw the stick around in Sandy Hill.
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Alongside I-90, I-391
Most homes in the car-heavy neighborhood are within a fifth of a mile of Granby Road, the central street through Sandy Hill. An interchange in the neighborhood connects Granby Road to Interstate 391, which leads 3 miles south to Springfield, home to Baystate Medical Center. Nearby Interstate 90, also known as Massachusetts Turnpike, travels 50 miles east to Worcester and 40 miles farther to Boston. “The biggest thing I tell buyers about is the location,” says local Realtor Joseph Kelley, broker and co-owner of Kelley & Katzer Real Estate. “The convenience is one of the big things in Chicopee.” Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses stop on Grattan Street as they run between Springfield and the city of Holyoke. Planes fly to 45 destinations from Bradley International Airport, 25 miles south of the neighborhood.
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Carroll,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Ray Ash Park
Garity Playground
Sarah Jane Park
Lincoln Park
Transit
Airport
Bradley International
38 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Sandy Hill
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Sandy Hill, Chicopee sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Sandy Hill, Chicopee over the last 12 months is $349,927, up 13% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$335,000
Median Single Family Price
$330,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$420,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$267
Last 12 months Home Sales
22
Median List Price
$319,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
-2%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
14%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
823
Median Year Built
1956
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,283
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,275
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,306
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,018
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Carroll,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,219
Median Age
46
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.1%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$88,771
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$97,482
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
90.5%
College Graduates
27.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
15%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
51''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
27''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
29/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
12/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
42/ 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.
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.
