Conway

Economy is a pastoral area with wide-open skies, hills and houses that have multiple acres of land. This suburban municipality, located in Economy Borough, contains large homes and a plethora of expansive green space, despite the name "Economy" suggesting trade, business, and even large-scale industry. “It’s a nice location being near Beaver Falls and Butler and it’s a short jaunt to Pittsburgh,” says Lisa Lanthom, a sales associate with eXp Realty who has sold homes in the area for 10 years. “It’s a great family community.” Neighbors in the community will want to take advantage of hiking and swimming at the community park, lily picking at the local garden and boating and paddling at the nearby Ohio River. And according to Joson Phillips of Berkshire Hathaway, the Preferred Realty, the neighbors can be seen interacting with each other. He says it is common for folks to gather for a Steelers game and enjoy some Iron City Beer, explore the woods in the area and hold bonfires together. Besides the potential of being able to mingle with friendly neighbors, Phillips says life in Economy is a change from many other area neighborhoods. “The reason — people are getting out of the congested areas like Cranberry and the city,” he says. “There’s land, trees and privacy. It’s a relaxing place to live.” Phillips has sold homes in the area for 8 years. The 3,600 houses here are a mixture of common 20th-century northeastern styles and grand, historic structures from the late 1800s. The median lot size is 30,490 square feet, while median housing sizes sit at 1,625 square feet. The median year built for a home in Economy is 1972. The area mostly has housing structures, as indicated by commercial buildings making up 22% of the properties. Additionally, 93% of the homes are owned. Buyers can find new construction houses starting at $639,000. Although, some new construction units can cost as much as $1.2 million. A three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath renovated colonial revival built in 1910 with a view of the Homewood Reservoir goes for $200,000. Conversely, a colonial revival built in 1966 with three bedrooms, three baths and a six-car garage sits at $380,000. Two-bedroom, 1 bath single-family homes can cost anywhere between $99,000 and $635,000, while three-bedroom, two-bath can fall between $365,000 and $957. Undeveloped lots can go for $30,000 per acre. Overall, housing can run between $126,000 and $1.1 million. Homes don’t sell as quickly as the national average of 44 days; they tend to be on the market for 66 days. There are also homes available in a 55-and-older community called Watermark at the Landings, which offers resort-style living complete with a clubhouse. The Cap Index crime score is 1 out of 10, which compares favorably to the national average of 4. Economy is near several stops on the Ohio River Water Trail. Water lovers will desire to launch their boats in the water through several different boat, beach and dock launches along the length of the trail. Lily picking at Daylily Valley Farm is another potential outdoor activity. There is also Dark Horse Stables, which rehabilitates and trains horses. Economy is part of the Ambridge Area School District, the largest school district in Beaver County. Economy Elementary School, which teaches prekindergarten through fifth grade, is the first stop for neighborhood children. The school’s Niche grade is B. Once the kids are done there, they move on to Ambridge Area Middle School and Ambridge Area Senior High School. Both schools have a C-plus Niche score. The district is renowned for its fine arts program, which includes instruction in singing, drawing, instruments and steel drums. Colleges and universities local to the community include Penn State Beaver and South College Pittsburgh. All year round, the community comes together at Old Economy Park. In the summer, neighbors play sand volleyball and swim in the pool. In the winter, the young and young at heart will want to sled down the hill. The park also features a ball field and tennis courts during the spring and a hike on the Legionville Trail when it’s both hot and cold. There are picnic shelters here, a disc golf course and an on-site event space called the Barn. It’s a spacious park that’s well-loved by the community. Grocery shopping opportunities are at the Walmart Supercenter on Economy Way, which is near the mostly fast food restaurants close to the Ohio River. Northern Lights Shopping Center is still developing, but it does have a Dollar Tree. Near Old Economy Village, the former economic center for the Christian Harmony Society, there are pizzerias like Ambridge Italian Villa and soul food restaurants like Annie Lee’s Southern Kitchen, both in nearby Ambridge, which is 10 miles from the neighborhood. Other shopping and eating opportunities can be found in Cranberry Township, a 15-mile trek. There are several planned events in the community. Recreation Drive Park is where several evening movies and The Concerts in the Park series are held for the community. The annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Breakfast with Santa events occur at the Economy Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall. Living in the Pittsburgh metro region is a dream come true for nature lovers who enjoy all four seasons. However, residents will want to remember to have plenty of sunscreen, an umbrella, a sled, an ice melt and a cozy winter coat. Highs of 80 degrees are not uncommon in the summer. About 50 inches of rain can fall between the spring and fall and locals can expect 40 to 50 inches of snow in the winter. Another unique quality of the Pittsburgh region is “Pittsburghese,” the midwestern way several residents speak. Folks who use this native tongue are affectionately known as “Yinzers.” Examples include “yinz,” which translates to you all; “slippy,” the substitute for slippery and; “nebby,” Pittsburghese for a nosy person. Located on the east side of the Ohio River, Economy Borough is just south of Route 2004 and east of Route 65. Besides being close to Cranberry Township and Ambridge, it’s 23 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. There is also a public transportation stop at the Northern Lights Shopping Center. Flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport is about a 35-mile drive.