$289,929Average Value$317Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Municipalities mix in Madison’s Worthington Park neighborhood
Located on Madison’s east side, close to the artsy Atwood neighborhood, the story of the Worthington Park neighborhood is a tale of two cities — well, a city and a town. Homes east of Rethke Avenue, making up a little over half the neighborhood, fall within the Town of Blooming Grove. This once-prominent town has been incrementally annexed into Madison over the years, leaving small, isolated clusters sprinkled across the east side. It will be fully absorbed in late 2027. Until then, some Worthington Park residents can enjoy a financial perk from living in Blooming Grove. “Our municipal property tax is quite a bit lower than Madison’s,” says Mike Wolf, Blooming Grove’s clerk, treasurer and administrator. “That’s an objective reason some people might want to live in Blooming Grove as opposed to Madison.” Even the Madison homes tend to be cheaper than those in other parts of the city, though those are still subject to Madison’s tax rates. Beyond finances, other reasons to enjoy the neighborhood include proximity to exciting parts of Madison’s east side and the Starkweather Creek Path, a 3-mile trail with views of its namesake waterway.
Early 20th century builds at comparatively affordable prices
Dense clusters of trees fill the neighborhood’s mostly gridded blocks, so small front and back yards are often well-shaded and private. Sidewalks line some of the streets but are absent in the northern stretch of the community. Homes in Worthington Park tend to be small. Bungalows, Craftsman and ranch-style homes are common styles. “It’s older homes, smaller homes,” says Ali Kane, a broker associate with Stark Company Realtors. “I want to say lots of 1920s and 30s builds in that neighborhood. It’s a cute little area.” The homes not technically in Blooming Grove also tend to be easier on the wallet than those in surrounding Madison neighborhoods. Prices across Worthington Park range from $210,000 to almost $400,000, and average home values are listed well below the Madison average.
Options abound at Garver Feed Mill and on Atwood Avenue
While Worthington Park does not have shopping and dining pockets, it is close to a collection of local restaurants. Sala Thai is a cash-only, plant-covered restaurant where Pad Thai and crab Rangoon are always in demand. Garver Feed Mill, housed in the renovated namesake building, hosts local eateries like Ian’s Pizza, Ledger Coffee Roasters and other local businesses. The closest grocery store is Woodman’s Food Market on Milwaukee Street, about a mile and a half away.
In the nearby Atwood neighborhood, Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace serves Tex-Mex cuisine, while Alchemy Café serves upscale pub grub, cocktails and craft beer. Monty’s Blue Plate Diner is a Madison institution, a 1950s-style diner housed in a former gas station with vegetarian and vegan options. Local bookshop A Room of One’s Own moved to Atwood after a long run downtown; it first opened in 1975 and specializes in feminist and LGBTQ literature.
Cocktails, music, plant sales and butterflies at Olbrich Gardens
AtwoodFest is one of the east side’s big neighborhood festivals, including two days of live music on three stages and food and beer vendors. Olbrich Gardens hosts music and cocktail receptions in its expansive botanical gardens, plus plant sales and a butterfly exhibit. The Dane County Farmers Market has a Late Winter market at Garver Feed Mill.
Diversity and college preparation shine at East High School
All Worthington Park students, including those in the Blooming Grove section of the neighborhood, can attend the Madison Metropolitan School District, rated a B-plus by Niche. Lowell Elementary is the neighborhood school and earns a B-plus. O’Keeffe Middle School also earns a B-plus, as does East High School. East is Madison’s oldest public high school, established in 1922 and designed by Wisconsin architect Frank Riley. Niche ranks East High as the most diverse public high school in Wisconsin and the 13th-best public high school for college preparation in the state.
Thurber Park Artist Residency provides studio space and resources to local artists
The neighborhood’s 5-acre Worthington Park is a gathering spot where residents can enjoy a meal beneath the covered pavilion, watch the little ones enjoy time on the playground or engage in some friendly competition on the basketball court. Worthington Park also offers several access points to the Starkweather Creek Path, a 3-mile trail with serene waterway sights. A couple of blocks east, Thurber Park is home to the Thurber Park Artist Residency, established in 2019 and currently held by fiber artist Jennifer Bastian. Lake Monona, accessible at the Olbrich Park Boat Launch, is 2 miles away.
Bus stops, major streets and bike paths surround Worthington Park
Buses run on Milwaukee Street and East Washington Avenue. Downtown Madison is about 5 miles away. The Dane County Regional Airport is 3 miles northwest. UW Health’s East Madison Hospital is 5 miles north.
Worthington Park borders three major Madison streets. Milwaukee Street to the south, East Washington Avenue — also U.S. Highway 151 — to the west and Wisconsin Highway 30 to the north. “You’re north of Milwaukee Street, which basically takes you everywhere,” Kane says. “And holy bike paths right over there.” In addition to the Starkweather Creek Path, the Capital City Trail, with an estimated 1,400 daily users according to a 2023 bicycle counter in in downtown Madison, is accessible just a few blocks 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
Jean Armendariz-Kerr,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Worthington Park
Basketball
Picnic Area
Playground
Thurber Park
Basketball
Playground
Hippo Park
OB Sherry Park
Washington Manor Park
Basketball
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
McCormick Park
Picnic Area
Multi-Purpose Field
Transit
Airport
Dane County Regional/Truax Field
8 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Worthington Park
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Worthington Park, Madison sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Worthington Park, Madison over the last 12 months is $311,500, up 9% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jean Armendariz-Kerr,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,085
Median Age
37
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$56,060
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$65,163
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.1%
College Graduates
27.1%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.8%
% Population in Labor Force
84.4%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
37''
Average Winter Low Temperature
12°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
44''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
89/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
70/ 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.
