Charlestown offers roomy homes and rural streetscapes
In Charlestown, lush green stretches of eastern Pennsylvania landscape provide a respite from the big city. This township of about 6,000 people, just 30 miles outside Philadelphia , is peppered with spacious houses on generously sized lots. “Because of the lower density of housing, it’s certainly a very rural feel — a very rural, country feel,” says area Realtor Bill McGarrigle, of the Bill McGarrigle Team with Keller Williams, who has about 40 years of industry experience. It’s an environment surrounded by conveniences. Residents are within 10 miles of shopping centers and the Great Valley Corporate Center, home to thousands of jobs.
Charlestown offers roomy homes on generous lots surrounded by wooded countryside.
Tree-lined streets and Colonial-style houses define this Charlestown cul-de-sac.
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Spacious floor plans reign, regardless of age
Some of the community’s homes date to the 1800s, while others are brand-new. “There’s quite a variety of homes, including newer colonial-style options and a mix of older houses and large acreage properties,” McGarrigle says. Most houses have floor plans of at least 2,000 square feet, and some are several times that mark. Colonial is the most common style. Lots often span at least 2 acres, scattered along single-lane and narrow roads. Traditional single-family homes around 2,000 square feet or less sell for $210,000 to $490,000. Larger houses can range from $500,000 to $2.7 million. Charlestown also has townhouses for $400,000 to $1.1 million.
Charlestown offers roomy homes with traditional architecture and shared open lawns.
Rolling fields and traditional stone houses define Charlestown’s scenic landscape.
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Public schools have STEM, arts and business programming
The area’s Great Valley School District maintains an A rating from Niche. A-rated Charlestown Elementary teaches kindergarten through fourth grade and offers intramural sports and band programs. Great Valley’s unrated 5/6 Center has a STEM curriculum with coding instruction. The A-minus-rated Great Valley Middle covers grades 7 and 8 and offers extracurricular activities ranging from jazz band to a mock trial club. Great Valley High is rated A-plus and has a dedicated business program with banking and personal finance courses.
The University of Valley Forge is a private, Christian school on the edge of Charlestown. UVF has an undergraduate enrollment of roughly 500 and maintains class sizes that average about 15 students.
Great Valley High School in Malvern educates over 1,300 students across grades nine through twelve.
Charlestown Elementary School is dedicated to fostering student potential.
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Hikers have multiple paths to explore
Charlestown has an active population, McGarrigle says. The characteristic meshes with the area’s rustic setting, which teems with trails and other outdoor attractions. Paths include the Horse-Shoe Trail, which spans nearly 140 miles, with several miles within Charlestown. The 1-mile Brightside Farm Trail is a flat pathway tracing landmarks like the Wisner-Rapp House, an 1835 stone structure on the National Register of Historic Places, where the Charlestown Historical Society is based. The trail is part of Brightside Farm, which also has a series of community gardens. Binky Lee Preserve, a former farm, now offers a pair of trails through open meadows and forest land. Charlestown Park includes a playground and athletic fields. The Pickering Valley Golf Club features an 18-hole course that’s open to the public.
Charlestown Township Park offers open space often used for disc golf practice.
Tree-lined paths create a peaceful setting for walks at Charlestown Township Park.
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Shopping plazas provide proximity to retail options
This community is mainly residential, but is a relatively quick drive to spots like Phoenixville Plaza. A Giant supermarket anchors the shopping center, which also includes Pet Supplies Plus and Dollar Tree. The Fairfield Place Shopping Center has another Giant, plus big-name retailers like J. Crew Factory, Ulta Beauty and Ross Dress for Less. A corridor off U.S. Route 202, just south of Charlestown, features Wegmans and Target. Hungry locals can go to spots like The Valley House Bar & Restaurant, whose burgers are popular, or P.J. Whelihan's Pub and Restaurant, a hot spot for hot wings.
Target in Exton provides convenient shopping for daily essentials.
Shopping centers and boutiques make Exton a frequent destination for retail.
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Location makes for easy interstate access
As rural as this area feels, it’s not isolated. A portion of Interstate 76 cuts through the township. Drivers can take I-76 straight into the heart of Philadelphia, just under 30 miles away. This interstate connects to I-476 for commutes to the Philadelphia International Airport, which is about a 35-mile trip. Medical care is available much closer at Paoli Hospital, about 5 miles away off U.S. Route 30. The Great Valley Corporate Center, 3 miles away, contains offices for Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and other large businesses.
Fall brings annual events and community festivity
The area comes together for Charlestown Day each September, a festival with music, food trucks and activities for kids. There’s also a summer concert series with performances twice a month from June through August at Charlestown and Brightside parks. Surrounding areas offer more activities. “If you live in Charlestown, you can take advantage of any of the community events in Malvern or Phoenixville ,” McGarrigle says. “Both are strong local towns that have a lot of activities." Examples include Malvern’s Burke Park, which hosts a Saturday farmers market, and the Firebird Festival in Phoenixville, which attracts thousands each December.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
Photography Contributed By
Tyler Newbold
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Susan Ellis,
an experienced agent in this area.
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