Kensington, Connecticut is the birthplace of "The Yankee Peddler." The Yankee is actually a duo of brothers, William and Edward Pattison, who came to town from Ireland in the 1700s and would peddle their wares made of tin from door-to-door and in a shop on West Street in Kensington. Now, there's a pawn shop in town that goes by the Yankee Peddler moniker.
Kensington is just over five square miles situated in the north-central part of the town of Berlin
Kensington, Connecticut is the birthplace of "The Yankee Peddler." The Yankee is actually a duo of brothers, William and Edward Pattison, who came to town from Ireland in the 1700s and would peddle their wares made of tin from door-to-door and in a shop on West Street in Kensington. Now, there's a pawn shop in town that goes by the Yankee Peddler moniker.
Kensington is just over five square miles situated in the north-central part of the town of Berlin. Smack-dab in the central part of the state, Kensington is considered part of the Hartford metro area. The region was once called Pagonchawnischage (place of the great white oaks) by the Mattabasset Indians. Today, about 9,000 residents and a bunch of modern-day shops have replaced many of the white oaks. Not to worry, though, if you feel a need to get back to the town's natural roots (pun intended), just spend the day at Hungerford Park where you can enjoy numerous nature trails and ogle a collection of exotic animals. Watch out, camels spit.
From suburbia to small city, you'll quickly discover that despite its smaller size, Kensington reflects a myriad of tastes in its rental offerings. Rents here are reasonable and often lower in price than those found in the rest of the state. The Hartford metro area is definitely cheaper to live in than say, the Fairfield county area located on the New York City side of the state where prices are definitely through the roof. Prior to searching for a rental, you'll want to understand what you can get here or you might end up peddling your wares in exchange for a place to stay.
Patience is a Virtue
The majority of the real estate in Kensington is owner occupied. That means that finding a house rental in Kensington may take you a little longer than expected. But patience always pays off doesn't it?
History is Alive
Okay, not really. Actually, there is a Historical Society with a nice museum where you can learn all about the local history and gaze upon some unique and slightly creepy artifacts, but many of the residences in Kensington were actually built in a more recent century. Single-family homes for rent and small apartment buildings were built between 1940 and 1999. You might, however, come across an apartment for rent that has that uber hip paneling from the 1970s. Maybe the landlord could throw in a disco ball to complete the look, but it might cost you more in rent.
Kensington is crisscrossed by several major roads, which might affect your decision on where to find an apartment to rent. Connecticut Route 71 (New Britain Road/Main Street) is intersected by Connecticut Route 372 (Farmington Avenue). Not to mention, Route 9, leading to Hartford to the north and the Connecticut shoreline to the south and the Berlin Turnpike. You have the option of living right on one of the main thoroughfares or finding something tucked away in a more residential neighborhood. The decision is up to you.
Webster Park: The Webster Park neighborhood features a large green park reminiscent of the town's earlier days and is tucked off of Route 9 in a residential area. Here, you will find mostly rental homes. The Berlin Fair Grounds are nearby and traffic here increases during the annual fair season in the late summer.
Berlin Turnpike: The Berlin Turnpike is a major road that runs right through the center of town, dividing Kensington in half from the south to the north. Along this main road, you are more likely to find serviced apartments in an apartment building.
West of the Berlin Turnpike: To the west of the Berlin Turnpike, renters will discover more residential neighborhoods along Farmington Avenue. Route 9 also intersects this portion of town, but the further out you head from the main road, the quieter the neighborhoods will be. You'll find Griswold Park in this area.
Kensington has a walkability score of 52 out of a 100. So, the conclusion is Kensington is somewhat walkable. Visiting your immediate neighbors or even running an errand or two on foot is possible, but you will really need a car to get around here. There is an Amtrak Station to quickly commute into Hartford for work, but you can grab your groceries locally at Kensington Market and Stop and Shop. Check out the local pizza haunt, Kensington Pizza or grab a pint with a few buddies at the Center Station Pub & Grill. For bigger chain shops and restaurants, hit the Berlin Turnpike. Perhaps you can follow in the footsteps of history and start a home-based business here peddling your wares from door to door. Then again, the neighbors just might think you are creepy.
