Cranberry Township

Home to Big Knob, the highest point in Beaver County, New Sewickley Township is the height of Western Pennsylvania country living. “We’re this rural area nestled right next to the suburbia of Cranberry. If you want the hustle and bustle, it’s right down the road. If you want the peace and quiet, it’s here,” says Ron Leindecker, the township’s manager who has lived in New Sewickley for 30 years. “The Big Knob Grange is a big center of the community. They have one of the last fairs in Pennsylvania with free parking and admission – going to the Butler Fair is like going to Kennywood anymore.” The proud home of seasonal celebrations, farm-fresh markets and Freedom Area youth sports, New Sewickley Township provides a rural home base among forested hills for Pittsburgh commuters and local farmers year-round. Even the township’s more densely plotted streets set single-family homes on half an acre to 3 acres of grassy, tree-dotted land. Styles range from simple prewar vernacular homes to 1960s and 1970s ranch-style homes to large New Traditional homes built in the past 20 years, selling for $130,000 to $600,000 depending on lot size and renovation levels. For larger parcels, prices range from $330,000 to $850,000 depending on whether the lot is closer to 10 or 50 acres and whether the home was built toward the end of the 20th or 21st century. Condos in patio home subdivisions come with perks like community clubhouses, pools and gated access, selling for $290,000 to $550,000 plus HOA fees. While some larger production farms operate within the township, hobby farms with a few cows, horses or chickens are also common. Excepting a few developments near Freedom Borough and the Tri County Commerce Park, all properties rely on private septic and well water systems. New Sewickley Township has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10 compared to the national average of 4. The paved walking path at Green Valley Park dips along Brush Creek and encircles a playground and sprawling athletic fields. "Springtime at the park – it gets extremely busy with all the sports events,” Leindecker says. Freedom Area youth leagues schedule games and practices across seven ball diamonds and three soccer fields. While more than 70 acres of playing fields are open for private bouts throughout the year, Three Rivers Paintball is best known for the Zombies of the Corn weekends throughout the Halloween season. Sharpshooters man paintball guns mounted to a haunted hayride and set out through the dark woods, taking aim at any zombies they run into along the way. A few casual restaurants are found throughout New Sewickley Township, including Bakers Buck Hut, a true hometown bar known for rotating dinner specials, outdoor deck seating and Sunday night Bar Bingo overseen by dozens of hunting mounts. Generations of soft-serve enthusiasts rejoiced when Young’s Custard Stand, an unassuming roadside ice cream shop that was family operated for 75 years, reopened for the 2024 season under new ownership. Brenckle’s Farm is known for seasonal displays of organic fruits and veggies and greenhouses packed with rows of colorful flowers. Several churches hold services throughout the township, including Oak Grove Lutheran Church which also runs a community garden in order to donate fresh produce to charity. For essentials beyond what’s available at the Dollar General or Guy’s Market on 68, shoppers head to dozens of retailers like Costco and Walmart 8 miles away in Cranberry Township. Main street-style commercial districts supplement Cranberry’s sprawling plazas in neighboring Zelienople and Rochester. Freedom Area Elementary School earns a C from Niche as does Freedom Area Middle School. Freedom Area High School earns a C-plus and lets students get a head start on earning an associate's degree from the Community College of Beaver County through six different High School Academy Programs. More than 40,000 people attend the Big Knob Grange Fair at the end of each August, a five-day event with over 80 years of history in New Sewickley Township. New and return-act performers provide the soundtrack for days filled with carnival rides, games, and track events like the tractor pull and demolition derby. Toward the beginning of the year, the Big Knob Grange gives back at the Pancake and Sausage Benefit Dinner. “Maybe somebody has cancer, or their house burned down. The whole community comes together and makes sure to go to that dinner. All the proceeds go to whoever’s having a hard time,” Leindecker says. The Pennsylvania Turnpike cuts through New Sewickley Township, but the closest onramps are in Homewood Borough and Cranberry Township. Cranberry commuters can find corporate offices and medical centers like UPMC Passavant Hospital along routes 19 and 228, while those heading into Pittsburgh hop onto Interstate 79 during the 28-mile drive downtown. Homes and roadways along the narrow creeks, runs and streams that snake throughout New Sewickley Township fall into higher risk flood plains. Brush Creek floods and shuts down parts of Brush Creek Road during unusually heavy rain.

The Cranberry Township neighborhood of Fernway is a traditional, planned housing development branching off the west side of Pittsburgh's Interstate 76. Situated in the heart of the township, Fernway’s comparative affordability is one aspect that attracts buyers. “You get more bang for your buck,” says Tony Tenfelde of The Marianne Hall Group of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. “There’s a lot more flexible living.” He adds that most residents either commute to Pittsburgh, Butler or Beaver for work. On the surface, Fernway and the rest of Cranberry appear rural, but there are plenty of “big city” amenities nearby. Brush Creek curls along the west side of town, its woodsy watershed providing relaxing natural scenery and a lush barrier between other communities. "Cranberry has everything you need. It's a popular destination for people who live in more rural areas," says Sheryl Eagle, Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway and 20-year Butler County resident. Fernway is the first housing subdivision built in Cranberry Township. Built in the 1950s, the neighborhood has roughly 450 homes. Its ranch-style homes with slab bases are surrounded by mature oaks and maples, providing shade and extra privacy for those without fences. These midcentury homes sell for $170,00 to $295,000. The low end of the price scale can fetch a property that needs some sweat equity, while the high end can get a 4-bedroom, 2-bath ranch. The CAP Index crime score for the area is 3 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4. Public school kids living in Fernway can attend schools in the Seneca Valley District, which has an A-minus from Niche. Many kids start their learning at Haine Elementary School, before progressing to Haine Middle School for fifth and sixth grades. Teens can continue their studies at Seneca Valley Senior High School, the district’s only high school, after attending Ryan Gloyer Middle School for seventh and eighth grades. All schools earn an A-minus from Niche, except for Gloyer, which has a B-plus. The high school has a student-teacher ratio of 10-to-1, allowing for smaller class sizes. There are also five colleges and universities local to the community, including Franklin Pierce University. Cranberry Township Community Park is the area’s one-stop greenspace for outdoor activities, including basketball, lacrosse, tennis and sand volleyball. The park also features walking and nature trails, as well as an amphitheater. Folks who want to sit on a bench with their laptop and enjoy the outdoors can have access to Wi-Fi. Outdoor time in Western Pennsylvania also means hunting. "Hunting camps are a big outdoor attraction here," Eagle says. During hunting seasons, residents suit up for a day in the woods at the State Game Lands. The closest game land to the community is State Game Lands Number 203 on State Gamelands Road in Wexford where huntsman can pursue deer, turkey, small game and waterfowl. The Cranberry Township Parks and Recreation Department organizes local events for the community, with a varying schedule of classes, including yoga, dancing, cooking youth camps and hockey, to name a few. Many of the events take place at the town's municipal center, the township gymnasium and the Grange Hall Senior Center. While there is a Global Street Foods food truck on Sussex Drive, most of the dining and shopping can be done just outside the community’s borders. Route 19 has a bevy of storefronts and commerce centers, including Costco, Best Buy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Party City, Giant Eagle and ALDI. Pittsburgh natives will also recognize Primanti Brothers, which is a citywide sandwich purveyor. Big box stores like Target and Lowe's Home Improvement are found at Cranberry Commons. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) provides emergency services, among other medical care, and is a top local employer. McKesson, a regional medical supplier, and Kawneer, an architectural firm, are also leading local employers with campuses nearby. For Fernway residents, downtown Pittsburgh is a 20-mile ride along interstates 79 and 279. "Highway access is key for people considering a move here. They'll get you wherever you want to go," Eagle says. Westmoreland Transit Authority provides public bus stops in the community for commuters who would rather ride than drive. The closest airport, Pittsburgh International, is about 30 miles from the community.

Convenient suburban living meets rural remove in Jackson Township. The northern Pittsburgh area's history dates to the early 1800s, with fields of undeveloped pastureland serving as a scenic relic of its past. The suburb sits square between busy central Pittsburgh and remote bucolic communities, providing homeowners the best of natural scenery and commercial accessibility. Residential development is growing in this part of town, where buyers can find homes priced from $275,000 to $450,000. Toward the lower end, you can settle into an early 1900s home with historical character and lots of land – great for the buyer ready to remodel and personalize outdated finishes. Brand-new builds in sidewalk communities fetch higher sums, with updated layouts, farmhouse-style design motifs and turnkey appeal. Prices increase with the size of the home, and these turnkey listings go quickly, selling within a week or two on the market. The Seneca Valley School District serves many Jackson Township kids who begin learning at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary, with an overall B score on Niche, before transitioning to Ryan Gloyer Middle and wrapping up at Seneca Valley Senior High. The upper schools are well-known for their top-rated academics and carry a prestigious A-minus score on Niche. All three spots are on neighboring campuses, making drop-offs and pickups faster and simpler. Kids can also take the bus to and from school from the designated spots determined by the district. Community meetings are held weekly in Jackson Township, with well-documented notes and updates reliably posted to the website to keep everyone informed. You'll also find a full event schedule here, including the standout Touch-a-Truck at Sippel Reservoir Park, where kids can climb around on heavy machinery while visitors snack on refreshments and listen to live music. Jackson Township's Zelienople Community Park is a beloved community gathering place two blocks from the town center. There's something here for almost every visitor, from the swimming pool to the skate park, the ball fields and the playground. The park's paved path climbs steep hillsides, which make for a challenging run, walk or ride. The community gathers here for seasonal celebrations like the Independence Day fireworks show and live music events. Bring the brood to Elevate Trampoline Park on inclement weather days, where kids of all ages can bounce until they tire out. The massage chairs and Beer Hut keep caretakers comfortable while the younger ones play. Jackson Township locals refuel after a long day at a local eatery on the main drag. Della Terra's stylish setting is the go-to for a sit-down meal, where pasta is always in demand. Pittsburgh's brewery hubbub is bubbling up here, and ShuBrew is a town favorite with a rooftop terrace, craft drafts and global bites. Catch a show at The Strand Theater after your meal, a performing arts center featuring classic films and live acts. Northgate Bilo Foods & Pharmacy is your neighborhood grocer and a minute or two up the road. Your closest big box stores are about 15 minutes away in Cranberry Township, where you'll find Walmart, Target, Lowes Home Improvement and much more. Interstate 79 runs straight through town, giving Jackson Township homeowners a direct route to Pittsburgh's city center and beyond. The Butler Memorial Hospital and Armstrong, a cable television and internet service provider, are among the region's most prominent employers, and most residents travel by car in this developing locale. Find Jackson Township in the middle of rural seclusion and suburban possibility.