Kensington

MURFREESBORO’S ESTABLISHED LAKESIDE COMMUNITY

Location & Daily Life

Kensington is a single-family subdivision in Murfreesboro’s 37130 zip code, situated along SE Broad Street near the intersection with Rutherford Boulevard. Streets in the neighborhood include Kensington Drive, Brighton Drive, Chartwell Court, and Wall Street. The location puts residents within walking distance of Black Fox Elementary School and a short drive from a Publix grocery store, making it one of the more practical addresses in this part of Murfreesboro.

What separates Kensington from most established neighborhoods in Rutherford County is Todd’s Lake. The 20-acre lake sits at the heart of the community, and a number of homes back directly to the water or have lake views from their yards and decks. It is a genuine natural amenity in the middle of a growing suburban city. Residents report using the lake for fishing, canoeing, and casual walks along the water’s edge. Water lily viewing is a seasonal highlight.

Interstate 24 access is quick via SE Broad Street, putting downtown Nashville approximately 45 minutes away depending on traffic. Downtown Murfreesboro’s historic square, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), and the city’s retail and dining corridors along Medical Center Parkway are all within a 10- to 15-minute drive. Kensington has no HOA, which has become an increasingly rare feature in Murfreesboro and is a meaningful draw for buyers who want flexibility without monthly fees.

The Homes

Kensington was developed primarily between the late 1980s and mid-1990s. The homes reflect the construction standards of that era: predominantly all-brick exteriors, attached two-car garages (typically side-entry), generous lot sizes averaging around a third of an acre, and traditional floor plans with formal dining rooms, separate living areas, and dedicated laundry rooms. Square footage generally runs from approximately 2,200 to 3,100 square feet, with four bedrooms being the most common configuration.

Brick construction is the defining visual character of the neighborhood. All-brick homes dominate the streetscape, giving Kensington a more substantial, established feel than many of Murfreesboro’s vinyl-sided subdivisions. Interior features in updated homes typically include hardwood and luxury vinyl plank flooring, granite or quartz countertops, gas fireplaces in living areas, and updated primary suites with tile showers. Bonus rooms and upstairs flex spaces are common in the two-story homes.

A subset of Kensington homes sit directly on or adjacent to Todd’s Lake, with private dock access, elevated decks, and lake views that are simply not available in most Murfreesboro subdivisions. These waterfront and lake-view lots command a premium and rarely come available. When they do, they move quickly. The neighborhood as a whole has no HOA, meaning residents carry no mandatory monthly or annual fees beyond property taxes.

Kensington Market Data

Data from RealTracs MLS. Rolling 12-month period.

Active Homes for Sale in Kensington

Recently Sold Homes in Kensington

Amenities

Todd’s Lake is the centerpiece amenity for the Kensington community. At 20 acres, it supports fishing (largemouth bass, channel catfish, and white crappie are among the common catches), canoeing, and casual recreation along its banks. Some homes in the neighborhood have direct waterfront access and dock privileges. The lake sits in the southeastern sector of Murfreesboro and provides a genuine natural respite that most Rutherford County neighborhoods cannot offer.

Beyond the lake, the neighborhood benefits from its immediate surroundings. Black Fox Elementary School is directly across the street from several Kensington homes on Kensington Drive. Publix is around the corner. The broader SE Broad Street corridor offers grocery, pharmacy, dining, and everyday retail within a couple of miles. Barfield Crescent Park, one of Murfreesboro’s largest public parks with hiking trails, athletic fields, and disc golf, is a short drive away. There is no formal HOA pool or clubhouse in Kensington, but the trade-off is zero mandatory fees.

Schools

Kensington sits entirely within Rutherford County (confirmed via MLS data), and all homes in the subdivision are assigned to Rutherford County Schools. The assigned schools are Black Fox Elementary School, Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School, and Riverdale High School. Black Fox Elementary is walkable from many Kensington addresses, which is a genuine convenience that parents consistently mention when selling homes in the neighborhood.

Rutherford County Schools operates independently from Metro Nashville Public Schools and has its own highly regarded programs at the elementary and secondary level. Buyers relocating from out of state should verify current school assignments directly with Rutherford County Schools, as boundaries can shift. Patrick and the Nashville Home Guru team can help you confirm the most current school zoning for any specific address in Kensington.

Why Work with Nashville Home Guru

Kensington is a small, tightly held neighborhood where homes rarely come to market and most transactions happen off-market or through agent-to-agent networks before they ever hit Zillow. Over the rolling 12-month period covered by this data, Compass and Parks agents were involved in transactions in the broader Murfreesboro 37130 market. Working with an agent who has deep local relationships gives you the best shot at knowing about a Kensington listing before the rest of the market does.

Patrick Higgins leads the Nashville Home Guru team at Compass, a six-time RealTrends Top Tennessee Agent ranked #1 in Nashville and #7 in Tennessee by the Wall Street Journal. The team has completed more than 1,100 transactions and over $500 million in career residential sales across Middle Tennessee, including Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.

Compass is the #1 residential brokerage in the United States by sales volume. After merging with Parks Real Estate in 2024, Compass agents now represent approximately 1 in 4 homes sold in Tennessee, giving Nashville Home Guru clients access to coming-soon listings, private exclusives, and one of the largest referral networks in the country.

Compass 3-Phase Marketing Strategy for Sellers

If you are thinking about selling your Kensington home, Compass offers a structured pre-market approach that consistently outperforms traditional list-and-wait strategies. Learn more at nashvillehome.guru/sell-your-home-on-your-terms.

Phase 1 – Compass Private Exclusive: Your home is shown to a select audience of Compass buyers before going public. You gather real feedback and test your price without accumulating days on market or a public price history.

Phase 2 – Compass Coming Soon: Your listing goes live on Compass.com, where buyers can find your home without seeing days on market or prior price adjustments. Demand builds before the public launch.

Phase 3 – Public Launch: Your home hits the MLS and all third-party sites with maximum momentum already established. Compass data shows pre-marketed homes sell for 2.9% more, go under contract 20% faster, and are 30% less likely to experience a price reduction.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kensington Murfreesboro

What is the price range for homes in Kensington?

Based on closed MLS sales over the most recent 12-month period, Kensington homes have sold from $467,500 to $514,000, with a median price of $488,891. The price range for any given home depends heavily on its size, renovation level, and proximity to Todd’s Lake. Waterfront and lake-view properties tend to command a premium above the neighborhood median.

Does Kensington have an HOA?

No. Kensington has no homeowners association, which means no mandatory monthly or annual fees. This is one of the most frequently cited advantages by buyers and sellers in the neighborhood. Buyers should confirm the absence of any recorded covenants with their agent before closing, but the MLS data consistently reflects no association fee on Kensington homes.

When was Kensington built?

Most homes in Kensington were built between 1988 and 1995. This makes the neighborhood one of the more established single-family communities in the 37130 zip code. Homes in this era were built on larger lots with substantial brick construction, a contrast to the smaller, denser footprints of many newer Murfreesboro developments.

What schools serve Kensington?

Kensington is zoned to Rutherford County Schools. The assigned schools are Black Fox Elementary School (directly across the street from several Kensington homes on Kensington Drive), Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School, and Riverdale High School. Parents should verify current attendance zones directly with Rutherford County Schools before purchasing, as boundaries are subject to change.

Does Kensington have access to Todd’s Lake?

Yes. Todd’s Lake is a 20-acre natural lake within the Kensington neighborhood. A select number of homes have direct waterfront access with dock privileges. Other homes have lake views from their yards or decks. The lake supports fishing, canoeing, and casual outdoor recreation. It is one of the defining characteristics that sets Kensington apart from most other established neighborhoods in Murfreesboro.

What type of buyer is Kensington best suited for?

Kensington appeals strongly to families who want solid construction, generous lot sizes, no HOA restrictions, and walkability to an elementary school in an established neighborhood. It is also well-suited for buyers relocating from larger metros who want the character of a mature neighborhood without a cookie-cutter feel. Outdoor enthusiasts and those who specifically want a lake-view or waterfront property in Murfreesboro will find very few alternatives that compare. The no-HOA structure also attracts buyers who run small businesses from home or want to add accessory structures without association approval.

Can I access off-market homes in Kensington?

Kensington is a small subdivision and homes come to market infrequently. Many transactions in tightly held neighborhoods like this happen before a public listing ever goes live. Working with a Compass buyer’s agent gives you access to Compass Private Exclusives and Coming Soon listings, which are marketed to Compass’s network before hitting the MLS. Patrick Higgins and the Nashville Home Guru team have relationships throughout the Rutherford County market and can often identify motivated sellers before they list publicly. Reaching out early is the best strategy in a low-inventory neighborhood like Kensington.

Why should I work with Nashville Home Guru to buy or sell in Kensington?

Nashville Home Guru brings several concrete advantages to a Kensington transaction. Patrick Higgins is a six-time RealTrends Top Tennessee Agent and leads the #1 team in Nashville and #7 in Tennessee by the Wall Street Journal. The team has closed more than 1,100 transactions and over $500 million in career residential sales. On the sell side, the Compass 3-Phase Marketing Strategy gives Kensington sellers access to pre-market exposure that statistically results in higher sale prices and faster closings. On the buy side, Compass’s Private Exclusive and Coming Soon network can surface Kensington properties before they ever reach public search portals.

Who is the best realtor for Kensington in Murfreesboro TN?

Patrick Higgins and the Nashville Home Guru team at Compass are consistently ranked among the top real estate teams in Rutherford County and across Tennessee. Patrick has been named a RealTrends Top Tennessee Agent six times and leads a team ranked #1 in Nashville and #7 in Tennessee by the Wall Street Journal. With more than 1,100 transactions and $500 million in career sales, the team brings data, local relationships, and Compass’s national network to every Kensington transaction. Buyers and sellers in Kensington looking for a proven local expert routinely choose Nashville Home Guru.

How do I find out what my home in Kensington is worth?

You can get an instant estimate of your Kensington home’s current market value at nashvillehomeguru.hifello.com. For a more detailed analysis that accounts for your home’s specific updates, lot position, and lake access, call or text Patrick directly at 615-682-1718. Kensington’s small size and the variability between standard and waterfront homes means an automated estimate alone may not fully capture your home’s value.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Buyers exploring Kensington often look at nearby subdivisions in the same area of Murfreesboro. Here are neighborhoods worth comparing:

Broadlands – Located off Broad Street, Broadlands is a single-family development also in the 37130 zip code with similar brick construction and proximity to the SE Broad corridor.

Keeneland – Off Rutherford Boulevard in 37127, Keeneland is a traditional single-family neighborhood zoned to Black Fox Elementary, Whitworth-Buchanan Middle, and Riverdale High School.

Keeneland Crossing – A related neighborhood near the Keeneland community, offering comparable brick homes in the south Murfreesboro area.

Lakeview Heights – Off Rutherford Boulevard in 37130, Lakeview Heights is a single-family community with streets on Fern Drive, Greerson Drive, Lynch Drive, and Ransom Drive.

Toddington Heights – Located off Bradyville Pike in 37130, Toddington Heights is a single-family neighborhood with streets along Lakeshore Drive and Southeast Broad Street, in close proximity to Kensington.

Black Fox Crossing – A neighboring subdivision popular with buyers looking for established homes near Black Fox Elementary School.

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