Johnny Appleseed and the pink flamingo lawn ornament hail from Leominster, Massachusetts, both representing the city's economic engines at different times in history. In its early days, farming supported the city's economy before railroads made manufacturing the dominant industry in the 19th century. Leominster’s prominent plastics trade and innovations like injection molding later earned it the nickname “Pioneer Plastics City” and gave the world the iconic front-yard bird. While there are still some small specialty plastics companies in town, the city of about 43,000 residents is now mostly a commuter community for those working in Fort Devens, about 9 miles east; Worcester, about 25 miles south; or Boston, about 40 miles east. Close to home, residents will find hiking trails, commercial corridors and a quaint downtown lined with 19th-century buildings. “No matter what age you are, there are things to do,” says Realtor Brenda Cormier with Re/Max Vision, who grew up in the area. “There are all kinds of developments and homes at different price points. For younger people, there are tons of parks and playgrounds.”
Johnny Appleseed was born and raised in Leominster and is celebrated in a festival that occurs annually.
In 1957, Don Featherstone designed the pink plastic flamingo lawn ornament at a plastic manufacturer in Leominster.
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Hiking Leominster State Forest and more outdoor opportunities
Leominster experiences all four seasons, with heavy winter snowfall, warm summers and temperate springs and falls. The city’s Leominster State Forest spans 4,300 acres in its western region and extends into neighboring towns. Visitors can hike past pink mountain laurels when it's warm or cross-country ski over the snowy ground when the weather turns. Rock climbers scale the state forest’s Crow Hill Ledges, while fishers cast their lines into the adjacent Crow Hill Pond, stocked with trout throughout the year by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Leominster State Forest is also a designated hunting destination. Smaller outdoor spaces include Prospect Park, which is wooded, spans 36 acres and has a 1-mile trail loop. The private Monoosnock Country Club has a 9-hole course, and Nashua Valley Conservation Area offers easy hiking trails and strenuous treks. Plus, Cormier says the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, about 7 miles west in Fitchburg, is a go-to family weekend getaway. “It’s on the edge of Leominster, but technically in Fitchburg,” she says. “Since it opened, it’s been popular for a quick trip.”
Leominster State Forest features over 4,200 acres with an extensive trail system.
Leominster has ample room for residents to walk their dogs or take hikes through the woods.
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Housing market strong despite 2023 flood
Various home styles are available in Leominster, from Colonial Revivals and bilevels to Cape Cods and ranches. Spacious Victorian houses are scattered throughout the area, with a large concentration on two-lane Merriam Avenue near downtown. Many properties feature common New England architectural facets like gable-front roofs, large porches, turrets and bay windows. Roads are typically narrow, bumpy and lined with mature oak and pine trees. A flash flood damaged many houses in 2023 when Leominster received nearly 10 inches of rainfall. While the city continues to raise money and look for grants, Coldwell Banker Sales Associate Sherri Tammelin Rogers, who has lived in Leominster for nearly 30 years, says such a storm is uncommon. “This is not a flood zone,” she says. “It was a freak rainstorm.” The median home price in Leominster is $470,000, slightly higher than the national median of $406,100.
The median home price in Leominster is $470,000, slightly higher than the national median.
A blue colonial revival style home in Leominster has solar panels with a large front porch and attached garage.
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19th-century buildings line Downtown Leominster
Downtown Leominster has a small collection of historic buildings. First Church in Leominster’s stone steeple and large stained-glass window overlook the grassy, central Monument Square, and Leominster Town Hall’s stately columns sit across from the Leominster Public Library. Flat-front brick buildings house small businesses. Sidewalks line the streets, and cars are parked on the curb. Nearby, The Mall at Whitney Field hosts popular retailers and chain restaurants. Surrounding the indoor mall, there’s a movie theatre, Market Basket grocery store and more dining options. Just up the road, the open-air WaterTower Plaza shopping center offers more big-box stores and businesses, and the nearby Twin City Plaza hosts similar amenities. For medical services, UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, Leominster Campus is on Hospital Road.
First Church Leominster is a historic Unitarian universalist congregation with a large stain glass window.
Leominster City Hall hosts the annual winter farmers' market in their auditorium.
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Johnny Appleseed Festival and Pink Flamingo Day
“There’s always something going on in Leominster,” Cormier says. Many of the city’s events occur in Monument Square, a downtown plaza. An upgrade project completed in mid-2024 brought new trees, additional lighting, more seating and ADA accessibility to the small green space. These improvements accommodate locals who crowd Monument Square for festivities throughout the year. The Johnny Appleseed Festival in September celebrates one of Leominster’s most famous natives with live music, vendors and fresh-made apple crisps. In June, the city honors the iconic pink lawn flamingo, first produced in the city. Leominster’s presiding mayor declared June 23 to be National Pink Flamingo Day in 2007. Leominster locals honor the plastic ornament with food trucks, pink flamingo items for sale and lots of inflatable birds. In the winter, residents circle Monument Square’s ice rink, while the end-of-summer Leominster Italian Festival celebrates those with Italian heritage through authentic cuisine, bands, dancing, bounce houses and more.
Leominster Public Schools
Students attend Leominster Public Schools, a district that receives a B-minus score from Niche and has four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Leominster High School, which earns a B from Niche, offers over 20 Advanced Placement and Honors level courses, as well as 12 vocational shops. The city’s unrated St. Leo School and A-rated St. Anna School provide a Catholic education to prekindergarten to eighth-grade students.
Sky View Middle School in North Leominster has several extracurricular activities for students.
Leominster High School has an extensive academic program for students.
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25 miles to Worcester, 40 miles to Boston
Leominster is a car-dependent city. Massachusetts state Route 2, which travels from upstate New York to the Boston area, runs through. Interstate 190 leads about 25 miles south to Worcester, and a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority commuter train travels about 40 miles east to Boston in less than 90 minutes. An MBTA bus also connects the city to Fitchburg, with stops in the WaterTower Plaza shopping center. The Twin Cities Rail Trail, a 5-mile paved path for walkers and bikers, also connects the two areas. “It’s beautiful and pretty much brand new,” Cormier says. “It first opened in 2022, and since then, they’ve continued expanding it.” When it’s time to fly, the Fitchburg Municipal Airport is just north of the city, while the Boston Logan International Airport, with flights to more than 80 domestic and 50 international destinations, is about 55 miles east.
Crime
Crime statistics for Leominster are not readily available.
Kelly was born and raised in the area, and even though she attended college out west, the lure of New England brought her home to raise her family. She knows the area well and loves to share her knowledge with her clients.
With an accomplished sales career in the construction industry, the next step for Kelly to become involved in real estate was a natural transition. She focuses on her customers needs and works diligently to find perfect solutions for them whether they are buying or selling a home.
Kelly looks forward to assisting new and past clients with improved marketing and company support. She is a member of the North Central MA Association of Realtors, MA and National Association of Realtors and MLS-Pin Multiple Listing Service. Kelly is also a member of the NCMAR Top Producers Club.
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