Charlestown offers roomy estates 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 multiple shopping centers and the Great Valley Corporate Center, home to thousands of jobs.
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. Some are several times that mark. Colonial is the most common style. Lots often span at least a couple of acres, scattered along single-lane and lane-less roads. Traditional single-family homes around 2,000 square feet or less sell for $210,000 to $490,000. Larger houses go for $500,000 to $2.7 million. Charlestown also has townhouses for $400,000 to $1.1 million.
Public schools have STEM, arts and business programming
The area’s Great Valley School District maintains an A rating from Niche. Charlestown Elementary also gets an A, includes kindergarten through fourth grade, and offers intramural sports and band programs. Great Valley’s unrated 5/6 Center has a STEM curriculum that includes coding instruction. The A-minus-rated Great Valley Middle features grades 7 and 8, with extracurricular activities ranging from a jazz band to a mock trial club. Great Valley High boasts an A-plus and has a dedicated business program with banking and personal finance courses.
The University of Valley Forge is on the edge of Charlestown, a private, Christian school. UVF has an undergraduate enrollment of roughly 500, maintaining class sizes that average about 15 students apiece.
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 in total, with several miles within Charlestown. The 1-mile Brightside Farm Trail is a flat passage tracing past landmarks like the Wisner-Rapp House, a 1835 stone house 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.
Shopping plazas provide proximity to retail options
This community is mainly residential, but residents are a relatively quick drive from spots including the Phoenixville Plaza. A Giant supermarket anchors the shopping center, which also includes Pet Supplies Plus and Dollar Tree. The area’s Fairfield Place Shopping Center has another Giant, plus J. Crew Factory, Ulta Beauty, Ross Dress for Less and T.J. Maxx. A corridor off U.S. Route 202, just south of Charlestown, features Wegmans and Target. Hungry locals have spots including The Valley House Bar & Restaurant, whose burgers are popular. Also, P.J. Whelihan's Pub + Restaurant, a hot spot for hot wings.
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. I-76 connects to I-476 for commutes to the Philadelphia International Airport, about a 35-mile trip. Medical care is available much closer at Paoli Hospital, located about 5 miles away off U.S. Route 30. The Great Valley Corporate Center, 3 miles away, has offices for companies including Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft.
Fall brings an annual community festivity
The area comes together for Charlestown Day late 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 Park and Brightside Park. Surrounding communities offer more activities. “If you lived in Charlestown, you could take advantage of any of the community events in Malvern or Phoenixville ,” McGarrigle says. “Both of which are strong local towns that have a lot of activities.” Malvern’s Burke Park hosts a farmers market on Saturdays, for example. The Firebird Festival in Phoenixville draws thousands each December, with fire breathers, jugglers and more.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
