Section Image

New Town

New Town

Neighborhood in Key West, Florida

Monroe County 33040

$966,737 Average Value
$717 Average Price per Sq Ft
54 Homes For Sale
New Town Plaza has many stores available for the residents to choose from.
New Town Plaza has many stores available for the residents to choose from.

New Town is the shopping and locals’ district

Known as the shopping and locals’ district, New Town is a predominantly residential area that has become a haven for year-round residents. Unlike the charm of Old Town’s boutiques and locally owned restaurants, New Town’s appeal comes from its convenience — local schools, parks and shopping centers are within minutes of quiet streets. And although there are a handful of chain hotels, tourists are rare. Its suburban nature caters to a close-knit community where neighbors quickly become friends. “It might take an hour in the supermarket because you’re running into all these people you know. It’s that kind of community,” says Mike Caron, a Realtor with Keller Williams Compass Realty and a 20-year resident of Key West. Doctor's offices, churches and senior living communities all have a place here. Housing options range from manufactured home parks to five-bedroom detached homes, accommodating everyone from service workers to growing families. And despite the neighborhood’s location beside Key West International Airport, most noise is buffered by the surrounding mangrove forest and salt ponds.

Smathers Beach is the go to place for the residents in New Town.
Smathers Beach is the go to place for the residents in New Town.

From salt ponds to Smathers Beach

Smathers Beach is the longest of the city’s public beaches, covering half a mile of shoreline with white, sugary sand. Windsurfers skid across the gentle current while locals enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the clear water. The beach sits oceanside behind the airport, bordering the island’s massive salt flats. Kayakers often explore these brackish waters, and hikers will find a peaceful trail and wooden boardwalk in Little Hamaca, a salt pond preserve with meandering mangrove forests home to crocodiles, snakes, birds and other island wildlife. The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, a short drive across the bridge to Stock Island, has since 1936 preserved local flora and provided additional habitat for native species. Golfers often head this way to visit the Key West Golf Club, the only public, 18-hole golf course in the Lower Keys. The newly renovated Cozumel Park, one of New Town’s only neighborhood parks, includes a shaded playground, an artificial turf field and a half-basketball court. Its splash pad is popular with kids all year, and the spacious picnic area has become a local destination for birthday parties. Youth leagues practice and play at the Clayton Sterling baseball complex, a collection of four fields about a block from the local high school’s stadium. “Everyone really congregates at the baseball fields on the weekend,” says Lisa Ferringo, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate, who has lived in the Keys for more than 20 years. The Blake Fernandez Skate Park, which borders one of the fields, draws teens from across the island. Ferringo also says Bayview Park is another local favorite, adding that festivals and community events often occur in this sports-centric green space.

Waterfront properties on the Riviera Canal

Midcentury architecture is prevalent in New Town, especially with the neighborhood’s smaller homes, although many older styles have been replaced with contemporary models. Condos such as Salt Ponds Condominium Association and the neighboring Las Salinas Condominiums sometimes allow properties to be licensed as long-term rentals, but most units are owned and occupied by locals. Surprisingly, New Town is one of the island’s few neighborhoods with waterfront properties, says Brenda Donnelly, broker and owner of Brenda Donnelly Real Estate and a 40-year resident of Key West. “There are some homes on the Riviera Canal that are very popular with boaters because you can park your boat at your house, which you can’t do anywhere [else],” Donnelly says. Boaters without private docks can use the new Happy Landings Marina or rent a slip on Stock Island. Homes along the canal are usually the most expensive, ranging from $1.5 to $4 million. Inland properties needing repairs may sell for under a million, but renovations to bring the home up to flood mitigation standards can be costly. Most single-family homes cost between $1 million and $2 million. Depending on square footage and amenities, two-bedroom condos and townhouses can range from $500,000 to $900,000. New Town’s lower elevation puts it at high risk for flooding during hurricanes, tropical storms and king tides, so flood insurance is highly recommended and even required for some home loans.

You can find waterfront neighbors across the canals in New Town.
You can find waterfront neighbors across the canals in New Town.
Aerial view of New Town south side of the neighborhood by the canals.
Aerial view of New Town south side of the neighborhood by the canals.
1/2
Poinciana Elementary School is the first step in education for the New Town students.
Poinciana Elementary School is the first step in education for the New Town students.

Poinciana Elementary within walking distance

Poinciana Elementary School, rated B-plus on Niche, serves kindergarten through fifth grade students from a walkable campus at the heart of New Town. Horace O’Bryant School, a B-rated kindergarten through eighth grade option in Old Town, welcomes Poinciana students for middle school. B-plus-rated Key West High School, within walking distance for some students, offers dual enrollment with The College of the Florida Keys. Students can also enroll in the college’s STEM-focused Academy Public Charter High School. Private faith-based options include Grace Lutheran School, the Montessori School of Key West and The Basilica School of Saint Mary Star of the Sea, home to Monroe County’s only private Catholic high school program.

Big John`s Pizzeria has the best New York style pizzas in Key West.
Big John`s Pizzeria has the best New York style pizzas in Key West.

Locals grab pizza at Big John’s

The northern coast of New Town supports all three of the city’s traditional shopping centers, offering access to chain restaurants, salons, gyms and banks. Searstown Shopping Center features Publix, T.J. Maxx and a Regal movie theater. There’s a second Publix located a few blocks away in Key Plaza, where the Key Plaza Creperie specializes in gourmet galettes and weekend brunch. Big John’s Pizzeria, located next door, has served authentic Italian pizza out of its terra cotta-colored dining room since 1997. “Big John’s is probably one of the most popular local spots in New Town,” Ferringo says. In addition to a Winn-Dixie grocery store and Ross Dress for Less, the neighboring Overseas Market shopping mall is home to the New York-style Goldman’s Deli, where bagels are made using the Big Apple’s traditional “boil and bake” process. Boutique shopping, local restaurants and famous bars like Sloppy Joe’s are about 3 miles away in Old Town, the city’s cultural and nightlife hub.

Dynamic restaurants and bars are the main attractions in Kew West nightlife.
Dynamic restaurants and bars are the main attractions in Kew West nightlife.

Many annual events occur in Old Town

Key West is well-known for its full calendar of events, which includes everything from the annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival to the Key West Lime Festival. In summer, when the island is less saturated with tourists, locals gather to watch the fireworks during the Patriotic Party at Indigenous Park or eat their fill of the Keys’ uniquely spiny lobsters during Lobsterfest. July also brings Hemingway Days, a jubilant celebration of the late author and former resident Ernest Hemingway. Families head to Bayview Park in December for the annual lighted bike ride and Hometown Holiday Parade. Other holiday traditions include the Harbor Walk of Lights, a nautically themed display of Christmas lights at the island’s historic seaport.

The famous US 1 Road that starts here in Key West and goes through New Town.
The famous US 1 Road that starts here in Key West and goes through New Town.

New Town connects drivers with the Overseas Highway

New Town is comfortably bikeable, with low car speed limits and minimal through traffic on residential roads. Sidewalks make the area walkable, especially for students, although many residents choose to drive when visiting nearby shopping centers or heading to Old Town. The Lower Keys Shuttle provides bus service throughout the area, connecting commuters with Marathon 50 miles north. Drivers have easy access to U.S. Highway 1, also known as the Overseas Highway, which spans the Keys with impressive bridges. Key West International Airport is less than 3 miles away.

Hannah Rainey
Written By
Hannah Rainey
Gabor Kovacs
Photography Contributed By
Gabor Kovacs
Drew Webster
Video By
Drew Webster

Agents Specializing in this Area

See All Agents

Schools

Source:
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 Darrin Smith, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Key West International

5 min drive

Bus

S Roosevelt & Va Clinic

Bus

Duck Ave & 17th Street

Bus

S Roosevelt - Hyatt

Bus

Kennedy Drive & Northside Drive

Bus

N Roosevelt & Mcdonald's

Bus

N Roosevelt & Searstown

Bus

Duck Ave & 19th Street

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime New Town US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 7 4
Assault with Weapon 5 4
Robbery 5 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$740,000
Median Single Family Price
$1,037,500
Median Townhouse Price
$1,135,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$545,000
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$372,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$717
Number of Homes for Sale
54
Last 12 months Home Sales
173
Months of Supply
3.70
Median List Price
$925,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
8%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,702
Median Year Built
1968
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,558
Below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,585
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
856
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
505
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098

Open Houses

  • Wednesday, Apr 30
    12 - 2pm

    3510 Eagle Ave, Key West, FL 33040

    $1,550,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,717 Sq Ft
    • 3510 Eagle Ave

    Assumable VA loan available. Buyer does not have to be a Veteran. Contact for additional information!Discover the charm of the Keys and embrace your ultimate lifestyle with this incredible newly renovated home on prestigious Eagle Avenue. This solid concrete masterpiece effortlessly marries luxury, craftsmanship, and natural beauty, creating a residence that must be experienced in person to be

    Irina Pytlik Keys Top Realty LLC

    Section Image
  • Saturday, Apr 26
    11am - 2pm

    2934 Riviera Dr, Key West, FL 33040

    $1,724,000

    • 5 Beds
    • 3 Baths
    • 2,268 Sq Ft
    • 2934 Riviera Dr

    This is your opportunity to own, on navigable water & be in Key West with a house that has 5 bedrooms, pool, concrete seawall, 2268 Interior sq ft & is priced at only $760 per sq ft! There are 4 other active listings on Riviera Canal for an average price per sq ft of $1,108. That's $348 per sq ft MORE! Yes, there is one other 5 bedroom in that group, but it's listed for over $1.75M more! You can

    Walt Lee Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Knight & Gardner Realty

    Section Image
  • Thursday, May 1
    11am - 2pm

    2718 Harris Ave, Key West, FL 33040

    $2,250,000

    • 4 Beds
    • 5 Baths
    • 3,924 Sq Ft
    • 2718 Harris Ave

    PRICE IMPROVEMENT! Now being offered at under $575/sq ft! At 3,924 square feet, 2718 Harris Ave is one of the larger private residences in Key West. This impressive home offers an open and airy layout that is perfect for entertaining indoors and out. Entering through the majestic front door, you'll immediately notice the high-end finishes and just how spacious the home is--marvel at the soaring

    Rodney Culiver Last Key Realty, Inc (KW)

    Section Image

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Condo Buildings

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Darrin Smith, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
6,814
Median Age
42
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$60,494
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$93,674

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
90.8%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
34.8%
Advanced Degrees
12.1%
% Population in Labor Force
70.2%
Above the national average
65.1%

Area Factors

Biker's Paradise

Bike Score®

91 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

49 / 100

Minimal Transit

Transit Score®

22 / 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.

Reviews

Are you familiar with the New Town neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
New Town
Darrin Smith
Key West Luxury Real Estate Inc (KW)
Section Image