Former farming community with a mix of modern and colonial architecture
Inhabited and cultivated for thousands of years by Indigenous groups like the Podunk Tribe, South Windsor was settled by the Dutch in the 1600s and incorporated into Connecticut in 1845. Today, South Windsor, 10 miles northeast of downtown Hartford, is home to about 26,000 residents. Despite development over the years, much of the town is still used as farmland, and the Connecticut River offers recreation and scenery for locals getting away from the city. "You can smell the manure out there; it gives you that country feeling," says Nelson Foss, Realtor at Coldwell Banker Realty in South Windsor.
In addition to its abundant natural areas, South Windsor's top-rated schools and highway accessibility have made it into the charming, family-friendly town it is today. Town history is preserved and honored at institutions such as the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse and Museum, while more recent additions like the Shops at Evergreen Walk bring an upscale edge to daily shopping. Historic architecture still has its place among the more modern condos and homes, and local events help keep townsfolk connected throughout the year. "Everyone just seems to love that little spot," Foss says.
Inhabited and cultivated for thousands of years by Indigenous groups like the Podunk Tribe, South Windsor was settled by the Dutch in the 1600s and incorporated into Connecticut in 1845.
Evergreen Walk Mall in South Windsor, Connecticut, is a peaceful place to take a break and enjoy
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Contemporary housing with a few Colonial-era gems
With prices steadily rising in the past decade, South Windsor's average home value is slightly above Hartford County overall, and median single-family home prices hover around $445,000. "It's really tough to get a starter for under $300,000 today," says James Knurek, a lifetime resident and a sales associate with the Knurek Team of Coldwell Banker, noting that options can range from compact, 1,500-square-foot ranch-style properties for under $350,000 to spacious colonial-inspired homes that easily top $600,000. Condos and townhouses provide less expensive alternatives, starting around $200,000. "It's one of those places, if you put something on the market there, it won't last," Foss says. "Very few houses are getting under asking price."
While the majority of the housing market is modern, there are still plenty of structures from the town's past that offer a historical taste of Connecticut. "Up and down Main Street, you get a bunch of homes built in the 1700s," Knurek says. These well-maintained and often upgraded farmhouses border a section of town still used for agricultural pursuits, where equestrian facilities and cultural institutions such as the Wood Memorial Library & Museum coexist beside tilled acreage along the banks of the Connecticut River.
New traditional homes are popular in a quiet neighborhood like South Windsor, Connecticut.
South Windsor, Connecticut, has quiet neighborhoods filled with ranch style and new traditional homes for your family.
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South Windsor's nature preserves and fun on the Connecticut River
Locals can catch the sunrise along the trails or sit at a picnic bench overlooking the forested hills at Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve, one of the preserved wildlife areas in South Windsor.
From Linear Park, recreationalists can launch kayaks, throw out a fishing line or walk along the banks of the Connecticut River. In summer, Veterans Memorial Park is the town's go-to for swimming lessons, while Nevers Park remains popular all year for its skatepark, playground, baseball fields, community center and woodsy dog park. As the town's central park, Nevers often serves as a site for annual community events, including a farmers market and more. "Every year they have a strawberry festival in the town center," often hosted by the same farms that offer pick-your-own berries on the northern end of town, Knurek says. And in winter, kids are known to head across the street to Porter's Hill. "Everyone goes over there to go sledding," he says. Additional recreation options include two golf courses and the indoor Nomads Adventure Quest, a hub of entertainment with laser tag, mini golf and a climbing wall.
Nevers Road and Nevers Park also host community events, including the weekly South Windsor Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Vendors sell local honey and pickles, potted plants and produce like juicy peaches and plump blueberries while musicians play song covers on the bandstand. The farmers market ends in October, but the end of the year brings holiday festivities like the Halloween Torch Walk through Nevers Park, the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and Skate with Santa.
South Windsor is also less than 20 minutes from attractions like the Stafford Motor Speedway and Dunkin' Stadium, home to the Hartford Yard Goats Minor League Baseball team.
Linear Park is 6.96 acres with about 1,500 feet of frontage on the Connecticut River in South Windsor.
Nevers Park in South Windsor offers playgrounds, athletic fields, a skate park, and walking trails.
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Trendy shopping at Evergreen Walk
As the newest addition to South Windsor's retail landscape, The Shops at Evergreen Walk offers everything from fine dining to footwear, hosting upscale brands such as Anthropologie, Williams Sonoma and Apple. "Evergreen Walk is beautiful. In the wintertime there's a big outdoor fire, and there's always people out walking their dogs," Foss says. Knurek adds that the shopping center hosts a free concert series on the lawn in the summer.
For groceries and additional shopping, Whole Foods and Costco sit just up the road, and Target is right across the street. And for a traditional indoor mall experience, the nearby Shoppes at Buckland Hills is home to hundreds of storefronts and businesses.
Local restaurants such as The Mill on the River give a nod to the town's history by turning an old grist mill into a modern eatery and event space. From the patio, diners can watch water from the Vintons Millpond pool and pour over the Podunk River dam, the oldest dam in the state.
On the north end of town, Connecticut Valley Brewing Co. has made a name for itself as one of the earliest brewers of the New England Style India Pale Ale, which took the craft beer world by storm in the early 2010s. Over the years, the brewery has added a coffee roastery and a full in-house kitchen to its offerings.
Evergreen Walk in South Windsor, Connecticut, is a quiet mall to enjoy your shopping.
Whole Foods Market in South Windsor is your organic grocery daily store.
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Getting around town on CTtransit buses and on major interstates
CTtransit supports a handful of services across the town, including local buses along most major roads. Drivers also enjoy easy access to Interstates 291, 84 and 384, providing convenient routes to major employers in Hartford or Massachusetts. U.S. Route 5, one of the town's main thoroughfares, offers a quick connection to Interstate 91, making the trip to Bradley International Airport less than 15 miles. Manchester Memorial Hospital is about 6 miles south, and Hartford Hospital's main campus is 12 miles southwest.
New York City is about 122 miles southwest of South Windsor, and Boston is 95 miles northeast. "You get a lot of people working from home [in South Windsor], but there are people who commute to Boston and New York," Foss says. He also says some South Windsor residents work at Pratt & Whitney, an aerospace manufacturer headquartered 10 miles south in East Hartford.
Manufacturing jobs account for the largest job sector in South Windsor itself, and Route 5 is the town's industrial corridor. The road has several wholesalers and warehouses from companies including Home Depot, Amazon and Macy's. The road also has a quarry owned by Redland Brick, which can cause some noise and dust for residents nearby.
All new elementary schools in South Windsor
As a graduate of the local public school system, Knurek knows firsthand how strong South Windsor's academic draw is. "I constantly get people coming into town because of the school system," Knurek says, adding that his own children now attend the same schools he did as a kid. South Windsor Public Schools earns an overall grade of A from Niche, with most schools under its umbrella rating the same.
All four elementary schools in South Windsor have been constructed in recent years: Orchard Hill opened in 2017, Philip R. School and Eli Terry opened in 2020, and Pleasant Valley opened in 2023. Students continue to Timothy Edwards Middle and South Windsor High, which both earn A grades from Niche. At South Windsor High, students can get a head start on a future in the business or technology industries by enrolling in Career and Technical Education courses.
Pleasant Valley School is another top rated elementary school in South Windsor Connecticut.
South Windsor High School is a school with excellent teachers and college preparation in CT.
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Cold winters can bring snow, hail and ice
South Windsor, like the rest of the Hartford area, has four distinct seasons with cold winters. Although there isn't typically snow on the ground all winter, it's not unusual for a foot of snow to fall overnight during the colder months. Snowfall can vary dramatically from year-to-year, though, and other wintery conditions like ice and hail can cause damage.
The Connecticut River can pose a flood threat, but farmland flanking either side of the banks largely protects residents.
South Windsor, like the rest of the Hartford area, has four distinct seasons with cold winters.
Although there isn't typically snow on the ground all winter in South Windsor, it's not unusual for a foot of snow to fall overnight during the colder months.
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Below-average crime risk in South Windsor
With a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, South Windsor benefits from a relatively low overall crime risk compared to the national average of 4. However, the police department did see a rise in specific issues in fiscal year 2022, including a seven-year high in domestic incidents and an eight-year high in larceny complaints. Although criminal arrests also surpassed the past five years, town officials noted that this statistic is still significantly lower than numbers from six to eight years ago.
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