Prospect Hill

The cost of space and a piece of history in Prospect Hill

Prospect Hill still has a few large homes from the area’s original late-1800s estates, but most of its houses were built between 1900 and the 1930s. These homes cover a wide range of styles, including grand Queen Annes, Colonial Revivals, Victorians, Tudors and Second Empire homes. Many big lots were broken up in the 1970s, so there are also a few 1970s midcentury modern homes in the neighborhood. With so much history, homes here often come with interesting stories or quirks. Several were designed or renovated by well-known architects like Henry Austin or César Pelli, and there’s one block where a circle of homes share a private park set in the central space. Borowski says discovering the stories of a home can be a thrill for buyers.

Despite being in the middle of New Haven, Prospect Hill’s homes tend to have generous yards and plenty of space between houses. “So if somebody wants a bigger house, that’s the place to be. If somebody wants to have more property, that’s probably the place to be,” Borowski says. “A lot of people like East Rock because it’s a nice walking neighborhood with restaurants and coffee shops. Most of those houses are larger, too, but they’re on smaller lots.” Smaller homes built in the 1960s or 1970s can sometimes dip into the mid $300,000s, but most start in the low $700,000s and can soar to $2.5 million. Along Prospect Hill’s edges, multi-family homes cost between the high $200,000s and $1.4 million, while condos typically range from the low $300,000s to the high $400,000s.

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Public and highly rated private schools, post-secondary schools

Prospect Hill is served by New Haven Public Schools. Children can attend zoned schools like Worthington Hooker School or apply to magnet or out-of-district options through the district’s school choice program. The neighborhood is also home to highly rated private schools, including The Foote School and St. Thomas’s Day School.
Yale University is famously within walking distance of much of Prospect Hill. Albertus Magnus College, a Catholic college, is also in the neighborhood.

Walkability and diverse commuting options for getting downtown

With sidewalk-lined roads and biking infrastructure, it’s easy to get around car-free from Prospect Hill. Driving downtown can take anywhere from five to nearly 20 minutes depending on traffic, so biking is sometimes faster — though many residents simply enjoy the daily walk. “I have many friends and clients who actually walk to work,” Borowski says. Alternatively, the Yale Shuttle stops in the neighborhood for faculty, staff and students. “So a lot of Yalies like living within these neighborhoods because they don’t have to use the car,” Borowski says. CT transit has bus stops on the edges of Prospect Hill, along Winchester Avenue and Whitney Avenue. Access to Interstate 91 is just over a mile away.

Easy access to the outdoors at Edgerton Park and East Rock Park

Residents often walk to Edgerton Park, where trails thread past gardens, greenhouses and early 1900s architecture. It hosts annual events like Shakespeare in the Park and allows residents to rent garden plots. Nearby, East Rock Park offers 425 acres full of hiking trails leading to some of New Haven’s best views. On the opposite side of Prospect Hill, the Farmington Canal Greenway trail is a 50-mile-long paved, tree-lined path popular among bicyclists and runners.

Restaurants and entertainment on State Street or in Downtown New Haven

Prospect Hill’s only café, Poppy’s Coffee and Kitchen, is a go-to spot for a morning coffee or brunch. Residents often walk to State Street, which has a Main Street-style layout with a collection of restaurants and cafes, or head downtown for entertainment venues like College Street Music Hall and restaurants like:

• Bar
• Louis' Lunch
• Claire's Corner Copia
• Mecha Noodle Bar

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