Chestnut Hill is a modern suburb with a woodsy ambience
Chestnut Hill is a mostly residential community just north of Easton and west of the Delaware River and the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border. While technically unincorporated, the community feels like Easton. “It’s part of Forks Township, but it almost feels like part of Easton,” says Shabana Pathana, owner of Keller Williams Real Estate Northampton County. “It’s only a couple of miles north of Downtown — you can almost walk there. It’s basically just a convenient, residential neighborhood.”
A variety of modern two-story homes along with a few townhouses
The neighborhood has transitioned over the last 50 years from almost entirely agricultural to mostly residential. “There are a lot of newer houses there,” says Pathana. “Spacious homes, large yards, modern amenities — all the good stuff.” Contemporary two-story homes make up most of the local housing stock, particularly on the north side of the community, but midcentury ranch-style homes and Cape Cods can also be found. There are also a few townhouses scattered around. The community features winding, tree-lined streets, and many homes back up onto woodlands. Most single-family home prices range from $300,000 to $700,000, though luxury properties can go for as high as $950,000. Townhouses sell for anywhere from $270,000 to $460,000.
The community has a CAP Crime Score of 2 out of 10, below the national average of 4. The neighborhood's proximity to the Delaware River means that flood risk is a factor for some homes in the area.
Close to supermarkets and downtown Easton
Most Chestnut Hill residents are within a mile or two of grocery stores and commercial corridors in Forks Township or Easton. Locals can pick up groceries at the Giant supermarket on Sullivan Trail. As for other shopping needs, downtown Easton is home to a selection of small shops and boutiques, while big-box retailers can be found a couple of miles to the west along Nazareth Road. Downtown Easton also has a vibrant dining scene, featuring everything from upscale Albanian cuisine at Albanesi to simple but highly rated Chinese fare at Magic Wok.
Gollub Park trails and Riverview Country Club links
Outdoor recreation areas take up most of the space in Chestnut Hill that isn’t devoted to housing. Gollub Park on the east side of the neighborhood is home to a popular nature trail that overlooks the Delaware River. Just north of the park, Riverview Country Club’s public 18-hole course offers great views of the surrounding woodlands. To the south, Jay Snyder Memorial Park is home to the local pool and a community garden. The Delaware River forms the community’s eastern border and is a popular boating and fishing spot in warmer months.
Local schools include dual enrollment and liberal arts college nearby
The area is part of the Easton Area School District. Shawnee Elementary School has a B-plus on Niche, while Easton Area Middle School has a C-plus. Easton Area High School has a B and offers dual enrollment courses through a partnership with Northampton Community College. Lafayette College, a private liberal arts college with around 2,700 students, is located immediately south of Chestnut Hill, between the community and downtown Easton.
Easton's bacon festival and Forks Township Community Days
Chestnut Hill doesn’t host major annual festivals, but its neighbors do. Easton is known for its July Heritage Day and its November PA Bacon Fest — the latter for its inventive eats and thick-cut bacon skewers. Forks Township Community Days is held in September at Forks Community Park just west of Chestnut Hill.
Easy access to the area's main commuter routes
U.S. Route 22 runs just south of the community, while Interstate 78 is just a couple of miles further. These highways are the main commuter routes for Chestnut Hill residents. It’s a roughly 20-mile drive to Allentown and about 15 miles to Bethlehem. As for major cities, Newark, Philadelphia and New York City are all 60 to 80 miles away by car. Bus routes in the area are operated by Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority and offer connections to the rest of the Lehigh Valley area.
