Blandon, a place to live peacefully
Blandon attracts homebuyers who appreciate quiet rural landscapes but also want to live in a suburban environment with access to necessities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village’s population is just over 8,000. “There isn’t a lot to do in Blandon itself, but homeowners benefit from the fact that Blandon is located between points of local interest and commerce in Berks County and the rest of the Lehigh Valley,” says Associate Broker and Realtor Rose M. Beck, who sells houses in the area with RE/Max of Reading. Residents will likely run into each other at the limited number of restaurants and stores. For entertainment, locals use their direct highway access to travel to nearby Reading or Allentown.
Suburban real estate
The average home value in the tranquil neighborhoods of Blandon is higher than in nearby communities like Allentown and Reading. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom 1950s bungalow near the train track that runs through the Blandon is valued at $160,000. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch-style homes sell for between $170,000 and $285,000. A two-bedroom, one-bathroom 1990s rambler on Main Street sells for $200,000. An early 2000s two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhome in a 55-plus community called The Village at Maidencreek sells for $260,000. Residents of the gated community have access to amenities like the clubhouse and fitness center. The HOA fee is $315 a month. A 1980s vinyl and stone exterior four-bedroom home in a non-gated suburb can sell for as high as $350,000.
Nearby public schools and universities
Some children attend Andrew Maier Elementary School, which has a 52% reading proficiency and an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Fleetwood Area Middle School has a 24% math proficiency and an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Many teens move on to Fleetwood Area High School, which has a 97% average graduation rate and offers 15 college courses. All three schools have B-minus Niche ratings. The community is 8 miles southwest of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and 35 miles southwest of Lehigh University.
Plenty of outdoor recreation
“The local government does a good job providing residents with plenty of outdoor recreational options,” Beck says. Maidencreek Community Park has a playground, a baseball field, restrooms, picnic tables beneath a shelter and basketball courts. Cornerstone Park offers playsets, an athletic court and walking trails. Residents travel less than 2 miles to access Lake Ontelaunee, which allows hunting, hiking and fishing. Canines run free on the fenced-in lawn at Maidencreek Township Dog Park. People drive 4 miles northeast of Blandon to hit the greens at Rich Maiden Golf Course.
Nearby shopping and dining
Fiore’s Chill-n-Grill Café on Park Road serves its patrons ice cream, curly fries and cheeseburgers. Next to the café, people shop for home supplies at the Dollar General. Locals pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy at Melrose Plaza on Anna Avenue. In the same area, folks drink salty margaritas and eat spicy fajitas at Plaza Azteca. On Snyder Road, farmers sell their harvested goods at Hoffman’s Produce. Locals drive about 3 miles southwest of Blandon via Park Road to shop at Walmart and Sam’s Club.
Entertainment that's worth the drive
“Of course, there are a few restaurants and bars and things like that, but there isn’t much to do in town for fun or entertainment, so people generally travel outside of the community,” Beck says. People drive 15 miles north to attend a wedding and party venue called The Barn at Walnut Grove, which holds live music and dancing events like its Christmas Bash. In Reading, Nightclub Reverb features local musicians and even famous performers like Lil Xan. Residents also travel to Reading to enjoy new film releases at its IMAX theater. The Fleetwood Area Public Library hosts weekly after-school hangouts for teens.
Getting around town
Some of the suburban streets have sidewalks, but the overwhelming majority of residents rely on cars in their day-to-day lives. Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority runs bus routes throughout the Maidencreek Township, which consists of the villages of Molltown, Maidencreek, Evansville and, the largest, Blandon. Residents drive about 4 miles northeast to visit Fleetwood. Blandon is 28 miles southwest of Allentown via U.S. Route 222. Lehigh Valley International Airport is based in Allentown. Most residents receive medical treatment at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Allentown. People drive 13 miles southwest to Reading via U.S. Route 222. Locals get onto Pennsylvania Route 73 to travel 61 miles southeast to Philadelphia. Reading has a regional airport.
Photography Contributed By
TJ Engler
