Avon offers big-box shopping and well regarded schools
The suburb of Avon blends into Lebanon, a city known for its small-town vibes in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Unlike its larger counterpart, Avon is part of the well-regarded Cornwall-Lebanon School District and home to the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, a resource for teens and adult learners. It's bordered by U.S. Route 422 and surrounded by big-box stores. "Even though Avon is really small, you will have everything at your fingertips," says Thomas Bechtold, Realtor and team lead at Re/Max Pinnacle.
Home renovations are helping values to rise
Two-story duplexes are clustered on the community's north end near 422. Also on the north side, the Avon Heights neighborhood is known for its smaller early 20th-styles such as bungalows and Minimal Traditionals, many of which have been updated. "Especially since COVID, there have been a ton of renovations and people showing more pride in ownership, so we're seeing the prices and values grow," Bechtold says. Avon's south side features late 20th-century ranch-style, bi-level and split-level homes with well kept leafy lawns. The median home price is around $240,000, similar to Lebanon.
Cornwall-Lebanon schools earn local praise
The Cornwall-Lebanon School District encircles Lebanon and earns an overall B rating from Niche. The district serves about 5,000 students with four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. "They have excellent teachers and programs," says Bechtold, who attended Cornwall-Lebanon schools as a kid. Union Canal Elementary, which gets a B-minus, feeds into Cedar Crest Middle and Cedar Crest High, earning overall B grades. Avon teens are close to the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, which offers over 20 programs involving health sciences, manufacturing, human services, architecture, transportation and the arts. Adutls can participate in culinary and pastry apprenticeships.
National retailers, groceries and local eats around Route 422
Home Depot, Dunham's Sports, Walmart Supercenter and grocery options such as Giant, Aldi and Weis surround the commercial Route 422 corridor. A few local restaurants complement the fast-food chains such as McDonald's and Burger King. Cedar Grill draws the early-morning crowd with omelets, French toast and pancakes. Sandwiches, burgers, and other savory options are on the menu for lunch and dinner. Music, candy, furniture and game stores are among the mom-and-pop shops in downtown Lebanon.
Community parks and chocolate-themed fun
Ironwood Community Park is Avon's centrally located green space with a playground, sports fields and tennis, basketball, sand volleyball and shuffleboard courts. Stoever's Dam Park encompasses over 150 acres of woodland and water within Lebanon's city limits and allows for camping, picnicking, canoeing, fishing and hiking. Based out of a red barn in the park, the longstanding Lebanon Community Theatre performs musicals, youth performances and Broadway shows. Coleman Memorial Park is another spacious area with a forest-themed playground, an 18-hole disc golf course and an amphitheater among the trees. It hosts the Music in the Park series in the summer.
About 20 miles away, the chocolate-themed Hershey Park is a popular tourist destination with coasters, a waterpark, big-name concerts and fireworks shows. Bechtold says residents often get annual passes.
Avon and Lebanon offer year-round family-friendly activities
The 14-acre Seyfert's Corn Maze is a popular Avon activity in the fall. Aside from the maze, the grounds also feature pumpkin picking, rubber duck races and hayrides during the season. Downtown Lebanon rings in the holidays with a tree lighting ceremony and parade. The First Friday Art Walk puts paintings, drawings and sculptures on display at various downtown venues. The Lebanon Valley Exposition Center and Fairgrounds hosts regional gatherings like the Lancaster Quilt Show and the Pennsylvania Gourd Festival.
Avon is car-dependent but close to transit, health care and work
U.S. 422 is the main route through Lebanon and Avon. It connects to Reading, about 30 miles east, and Harrisburg, which has the nearest international airport, about 35 miles west. According to Bechtold, many residents rely on cars, especially since stores are across the busy four-lane Route 422. Lebanon Transit buses provide another transportation option, and the number four route leads downtown. WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, one of the area's largest employers, is about 2 miles west. Fort Indiantown Gap, one of the country's busiest National Guard training center, is about 20 miles north.
