Ben Avon Heights

A couple of miles north of its namesake, the Ohio River, Ohio Township is a lush community where folks who want to be close enough to Pittsburgh can find newer homes on large lots. This township offers its residents sparse suburban living with the convenience of nearby shopping options and a well-regarded public school district. Balancing privacy and a strong community feel, it’s not hard to understand the appeal of life in Ohio Township. While there are many midcentury charmers in Ohio Township, there are even more properties that are newer, built between the late 1990s and 2020s. From simple, small ranch-style homes and bungalows to large Colonial Revivals and New Traditional tract houses, homebuyers have quite the assortment to peruse. Larger lots, typically around a half-acre, are the norm in Ohio Township, so there’s a good amount of green space between neighbors. That said, townhouses and other multi-family residences are the exceptions to this. Garages and driveways are also common features, meaning parking is rarely an issue along Ohio Townships’ sidewalk- and tree-lined streets. Overall list prices range from $305,000 to $1.1 million. The median cost of a single-family home is $499,950; this could afford a three-bedroom, three-bathroom property. Ohio Township is served by the Avonworth School District, which is rated with an overall A-minus by Niche and ranked No. 25 on Niche’s list of the Pittsburgh area’s best school districts. Students can take their first academic steps at Avonworth Primary Center, rated with a B-minus on Niche. From there, they can attend Avonworth Elementary before going to Avonworth Middle and graduating from Avonworth High, each with an A-minus rating on Niche. The 9th-grade academy program at Avonworth High lets first-year students learn the ropes of high-school life through a semester-long course exploring career paths and helps form helpful academic habits. Also available to students is the A.W. Beattie Career Center. This facility offers various programs, including Culinary Arts, Carpentry, Surgical Sciences, Cosmetology and Advertising Design. Local golfers enjoy the greens at Diamond Run Golf Club. Across the street, the Ohio Township Community Park offers more outdoor recreation. This park sprawls across 80 acres of rolling hills and small valleys. Residents enjoy watching the sunset behind the trees in the upper field of the park. The heart of this green space is its two-story nature center, which is used for recreational classes and can be rented out for events. Although residents have to leave the township to run errands like grocery shopping, they are not without options and ease. In fact, Mt Nebo Pointe is less than a mile outside the township and has convenient stores, such as Target and Sam’s Club. Ross Park Mall, a popular shopping destination in the greater Pittsburgh area, is nearby, too. And while there are delectable spots to dine at these shopping hubs, Ohio Township is home to a handful of tried-and-true eateries. Goodfellas Deli and Drafthouse is appreciated for its varied draft selection and is known for its homemade chips. Nicky’s Thai Kitchen has a location in the area and is a favorite small Pittsburgh chain. It has been consistently ranked by Pittsburgh Magazine as the best Thai spot in the city. Ohio Township has several events throughout the year that help bring the community together. The Ohio Township Community Day is held in the summer and features a parade, food trucks, and fireworks. The township also hosts an annual haunted trail for families at the community park during the Halloween season. All proceeds of the event go to a local charity. It’s a 12-mile drive from the heart of Ohio Township to downtown Pittsburgh, and it’s a simple route as well. Folks just need to hop on Interstate 279, which runs through the community’s east side. Conversely, Interstate 79 borders the west side and offers an alternate route into downtown.