With views of Buttonwood Park this rows of sprawling homes is highly sought after.
Scenic inland living in coastal New Bedford
Buttonwood Park overlooks the historic New Bedford park it’s named after, just a couple miles west of downtown. Realtor Christine Medeiros of Kokopelli Realty, who has more than 20 years of local real estate experience, says that the neighborhood’s proximity to its namesake green space is its most appealing feature. “Being within walking distance to the park is a huge draw, it’s the biggest park in New Bedford,” she says. President Richard Leary, with the Friends of Buttonwood Park, agrees. He grew up just four houses away from the 97-acre park and has been affiliated with the nonprofit organization that acts as its steward since the 1980s. “I would say it’s a middle to maybe upper middle-class neighborhood,” Leary says. “With homes that people take pride in and that are well-maintained.”
Newley renovated homes can also be found overlooking Buttonwood Park.
Colonial Revivals, shingled Cape Cods and more
The grid-patterned residential streets are neatly arranged around the park. They’re lined with closely spaced Colonial Revivals and Cape Cods – classic New England architecture. Many homes were built between 1900 and 1930, but there are a few 1940s ranch-style bungalows. Prices start at around $366,000 and go up to a little more than $630,000, depending on size and condition. A section of the neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the four residential blocks just north of Buttonwood Park, between Oneida and Hussey streets. “All the streets on the north side of the park were undeveloped in the early 1900s,” Leary says. “It was part of the tract that had been purchased by the city for the park, but a developer managed to buy it and build four streets of housing. At one time, because of the whaling industry, New Bedford was probably the richest city per capita in the U.S.,” Leary continued. “And on these streets, you can still see some of the houses that were built for the whaling masters for whom money was no object.” Homes there tend to fetch a higher sale price than homes elsewhere in the neighborhood. But Medeiros says that the market here is hot, regardless. “People are looking for the proximity to Buttonwood Park, so homes here sell quickly.” In fact, they tend to sell in just 18 days, compared to than the national average of 44 days.
The train in Buttonwood Park zoo is the most efficient way to get around the park.
Historic Buttonwood Park
Frederick Olmsted, one of the most famous and sought-after landscape architects in the United States, drew up the original plans for Buttonwood Park in the early 1900s. “The master plan was created, but for some reason the city council at the time, decided not to implement it till the 1980s, when there was a nation-wide revival of interest in Olmstead parks,” Leary says, adding that in the ‘80s, Buttonwood and several more parks in Massachusetts received funds for restoration. That’s when Olmsted’s plans were dusted off, updated and finally implemented. Today, the park is the largest and most heavily used in New Bedford, home to the Lawler Branch Library and the Buttonwood Park Zoo. Within the park is what locals call ‘The Great Lawn,’ a vast expanse of grass used for youth football and the annual New Bedford Whaling City Festival, a fair with carnival rides, vendors and food concessions. In the summer and early fall, the Great Lawn hosts the New Bedford Farmers Market, too. The concourse, a path that was part of the restoration, winds its way through the middle of the park, past basketball, pickleball and tennis courts, the arboretum, gardens and playground. “It’s a very popular place to walk, thousands of people walk through each day,” Leary says. “There’s plenty of active and passive recreation supported by the park.” And it’s all preserved by the Friends of Buttonwood Park nonprofit. Leary continues: “We came into existence in the late 1980s.” We’re small, but we’re passionate and dedicated, and we work closely with the city’s Department of Social Infrastructure to protect the park from over-commercialization, to keep it free, to support the maintenance of the park, to keep it beautiful, and the improvement of the park.”
The local bus allows you to move around Buttonwood Park and New Bedford very easily.
Quick commute to University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Students attend schools in the New Bedford Public Schools district. Their exact path is determined by their home address, so parents are encouraged to double-check the boundary lines ahead of registration. Between preschool and fifth grade, kids go to either Rodman Elementary or Winslow Elementary, both of which earn B-minus grades from Niche. The two elementaries are feeder schools for Keith Middle and New Bedford High. Keith Middle gets a C grade while New Bedford High gets a B-minus. The high school offers two magnet programs: an International Baccalaureate program and the Magnet Academy of Civic Leadership & World Studies.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is less than 4 miles west of Buttonwood Park. Originally established as the New Bedford Textile School in 1895, UMass Dartmouth now offers 120 undergraduate and 42 graduate fields of study. It’s a big local employer, too. Medeiros observes that several of the homes she’s sold in Buttonwood Park have been purchased by faculty members and students. “It’s a really quick commute for anybody who works or goes to school there,” she says.
Buttonwood Park hosts several big chain eateries like Dominos and Burger King.
Everyday essentials off U.S. Route 6, downtown dining
Everyday conveniences, from Shaw’s to Walgreens are found on U.S. Route 6, just north of the community. There are a few chain restaurants along the main road, too, such as Dunkin’ and Domino’s. Hazuki Kitchen, between the two chains, serves sushi. Across the street, China Star is a favorite for Chinese takeout. Medeiros says Downtown New Bedford is where the real dining scene is centered, though. She recommends The Black Whale, an upscale New England seafood spot overlooking the Acushnet River. Acushnet Creamery, right next door, is known for its freshly baked waffle cones and its 24/7 schedule. “And the Buttonwood Park area is very close to the Dartmouth line, too, so that’s where you’d go for bigger shopping expeditions,” Medeiros says, observing that the Dartmouth Mall is still a active shopping hub even as malls across the country are shuttering. The mall is anchored by Macy’s and Burlington, and home to a variety of other clothing retailers, jewelers and more. It also has an AMC movie theater.
Convenient to Downtown New Bedford, local employers
Buttonwood Park is about 2 miles west of Downtown New Bedford. The drive typically takes less than 10 minutes via Union Street. Route 6, which runs east-west past the north side of the neighborhood, also connects east toward downtown. Heading west, the highway goes toward Interstate 195 and Providence. About a mile east of the neighborhood, U.S. St. Luke’s Hospital is a local employer and located between Buttonwood Park and downtown. Southeastern Regional Transit Authority bus stops on Rockdale Avenue connect from the east side of Buttonwood Park to the hospital and beyond, around wider New Bedford. The New Bedford Regional Airport is about 4 miles north.
Downtown New Bedford sits just minutes from Buttonwood Park.
Moby Dick Brewery is one of the world class craft brewers in the Buttonwood Park area.
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
Deb Schusterman,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Buttonwood Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Tennis
Buttonwood Playground
Ashley Park
Captain Jack Peterson Dog Park
Dr. Paul F. Walsh Athletic Field
Harrington Park
Transit
Airport
Rhode Island Tf Green International
52 min drive
Bus
Kempton St And Hussey St
Bus
State Rd Shaw's
Bus
Rockdale Ave And Arnold St
Bus
Kempton St And Cornell St
Bus
Rockdale Ave And Lake St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Buttonwood Park
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Buttonwood Park, New Bedford sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Buttonwood Park, New Bedford over the last 12 months is $505,583, up 24% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$483,000
Median Single Family Price
$483,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$264
Last 12 months Home Sales
12
Median List Price
$487,450
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
16%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
554
Median Year Built
1949
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,608
Below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,659
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Deb Schusterman,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,355
Median Age
48
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
27.1%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$98,968
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$103,766
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.9%
College Graduates
41.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.9%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
52''
Average Winter Low Temperature
22°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
33''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
41/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
50/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
34/ 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.
