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University Park

University Park

Neighborhood in Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester County 01603, 01610

$525,169 Average Value
$280 Average Price per Sq Ft
3 Homes For Sale

Main South

Called Main South by locals, Worcester’s University Park neighborhood centers around Main Street and Clark University. Traditionally, this area had a rough reputation, but community development efforts over the last decade have pushed it forward. It's where people stay from one generation to the next, where Victorian houses and traditional Worcester three-decker homes sit next to each other on urban streets and where diverse cuisines are well-represented. “Growing up it was just all families. When your mom wanted you to come home for dinner, she would yell, and it would get relayed down the street and you would head home,” says Billy McGuiness, co-owner of 1 Worcester Homes and a native of Main South. “You run into people and they look vaguely familiar, and they say, ‘oh you grew up over there too.’ It’s just like a little pocket there.”

Try The Grease Barbershop in Main South.
Try The Grease Barbershop in Main South.
Pilgrim Congregational Church looks over Main South.
Pilgrim Congregational Church looks over Main South.
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There are many businesses and restaurants on Main St in Main South.
There are many businesses and restaurants on Main St in Main South.

Cuisine of the world

Main South is known for its diverse restaurant offerings. Main Taqueria serves tacos and enchiladas from inside a cozy brick building. Ha Tien Market sells Vietnamese groceries and house-made banh mi. Baked pop tarts and espresso are available at New Tradition Company, a coffee house with rugs and a motorcycle theme. Maria's Kitchen makes large portions of pork shoulder and plantains. Chains like Dunkin and Family Dollar also have a presence here, and a Price Chopper supermarket is about 1 mile away. Students at Clark, a private liberal arts school, regularly hang out at Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern and Annie’s Clark Brunch.

This incredible Queen Anne home has been converted into a multi family residence in Main South.
This incredible Queen Anne home has been converted into a multi family residence in Main South.

Victorian homes on urban streets

Houses in Main South sit right next to each other on densely packed streets. Historic Queen Anne homes, Victorian houses with bay windows and multifamily properties sit near spectacular brick church buildings. Street parking is the norm, though some homes have driveways, and some hide behind wooden or chain-link fences. Neighbors can easily walk around the area to restaurants, retail shops and social service organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester and Catholic Charities Worcester County.

South High Community School has an overall rating of B according to Niche.
South High Community School has an overall rating of B according to Niche.

Accelerated academics

Children living in Main South can attend Worcester Public Schools. Some kids are assigned to Goddard School of Science & Technology for elementary school, followed by Dr. Arthur F. Sullivan Middle School and South High Community School. Kids at Sullivan and South High can enroll in the Goddard Scholars Academy, an academically rigorous magnet program for high achievers in the Worcester school district. Worcester Public Schools also has a dual enrollment plan where high schoolers can take college courses and offers a fine arts magnet program at three of its schools.

Toy boat races

Main South is gritty and urban but has one of the city’s most picturesque parks. Also known as Crystal Park, the neighborhood green space spans about 14 acres and features tennis and basketball courts, a playground and picnic areas. Crystal Pond hosts the occasional toy boat race. Walking pathways swerve throughout for quiet moments of reflection.

Another stunning view of university Park.
Another stunning view of university Park.
Artists have their work displayed in University Park.
Artists have their work displayed in University Park.
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Bus service for Main South can be found up and down Main St.
Bus service for Main South can be found up and down Main St.

Driving and public transit

Public transportation is available via the Worcester Regional Transit Authority, which has several bus stops along Main Street. Main South is minutes from Interstate 290 and Route 146, a roadway that connects Worcester with Providence, Rhode Island. Union Station, where people can catch the commuter rail train to Boston, is a 10-minute drive. But Main South is an insular neighborhood where residents walk to eateries, bring their kids to the park and participate actively in their community. “Worcester is a great city, and if you spend time in the neighborhood and get to know people, and visit small mom and pop shops and restaurants, you get to see what makes it special,” says McGuiness.

Laura Finaldi
Written By
Laura Finaldi
David Ciolfi
Photography Contributed By
David Ciolfi
Joey Kaigler
Video By
Joey Kaigler

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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 Cynthia Walsh MacKenzie, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Worcester Regional

12 min drive

Bus

Main St & Mill

Bus

661 Park Ave (Meinke)

Bus

Park Ave & Shirley St

Bus

Main St & Hawthorne St

Bus

Main St & Tirrell St

Bus

Cambridge Street & Price Chopper

Bus

Main St & Claremont St

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime University Park US
Homicide 6 4
Sexual Assault 7 4
Assault with Weapon 6 4
Robbery 7 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 6 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 6 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$227,500
Median Single Family Price
$356,250
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$245,000
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$156,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$280
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Last 12 months Home Sales
6
Months of Supply
6.00
Median List Price
$245,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
-2%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-25%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
348
Median Year Built
1900
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,605
Below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
3,211
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
904
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
731
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Cynthia Walsh MacKenzie, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
7,756
Median Age
33
Population Density
22 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$29,966
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$44,983

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
73.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
18.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.1%
% Population in Labor Force
55.7%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
48''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
79°F
Annual Snowfall
45''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

50 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

88 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

38 / 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.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Reviews

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
University Park
Cynthia Walsh MacKenzie
Walsh and Associates Real Estate
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