Cranberry Township

The Cranberry Township neighborhood of Fernway is a traditional, planned housing development branching off the west side of Pittsburgh's Interstate 76. Situated in the heart of the township, Fernway’s comparative affordability is one aspect that attracts buyers. “You get more bang for your buck,” says Tony Tenfelde of The Marianne Hall Group of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. “There’s a lot more flexible living.” He adds that most residents either commute to Pittsburgh, Butler or Beaver for work. On the surface, Fernway and the rest of Cranberry appear rural, but there are plenty of “big city” amenities nearby. Brush Creek curls along the west side of town, its woodsy watershed providing relaxing natural scenery and a lush barrier between other communities. "Cranberry has everything you need. It's a popular destination for people who live in more rural areas," says Sheryl Eagle, Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway and 20-year Butler County resident. Fernway is the first housing subdivision built in Cranberry Township. Built in the 1950s, the neighborhood has roughly 450 homes. Its ranch-style homes with slab bases are surrounded by mature oaks and maples, providing shade and extra privacy for those without fences. These midcentury homes sell for $170,00 to $295,000. The low end of the price scale can fetch a property that needs some sweat equity, while the high end can get a 4-bedroom, 2-bath ranch. The CAP Index crime score for the area is 3 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4. Public school kids living in Fernway can attend schools in the Seneca Valley District, which has an A-minus from Niche. Many kids start their learning at Haine Elementary School, before progressing to Haine Middle School for fifth and sixth grades. Teens can continue their studies at Seneca Valley Senior High School, the district’s only high school, after attending Ryan Gloyer Middle School for seventh and eighth grades. All schools earn an A-minus from Niche, except for Gloyer, which has a B-plus. The high school has a student-teacher ratio of 10-to-1, allowing for smaller class sizes. There are also five colleges and universities local to the community, including Franklin Pierce University. Cranberry Township Community Park is the area’s one-stop greenspace for outdoor activities, including basketball, lacrosse, tennis and sand volleyball. The park also features walking and nature trails, as well as an amphitheater. Folks who want to sit on a bench with their laptop and enjoy the outdoors can have access to Wi-Fi. Outdoor time in Western Pennsylvania also means hunting. "Hunting camps are a big outdoor attraction here," Eagle says. During hunting seasons, residents suit up for a day in the woods at the State Game Lands. The closest game land to the community is State Game Lands Number 203 on State Gamelands Road in Wexford where huntsman can pursue deer, turkey, small game and waterfowl. The Cranberry Township Parks and Recreation Department organizes local events for the community, with a varying schedule of classes, including yoga, dancing, cooking youth camps and hockey, to name a few. Many of the events take place at the town's municipal center, the township gymnasium and the Grange Hall Senior Center. While there is a Global Street Foods food truck on Sussex Drive, most of the dining and shopping can be done just outside the community’s borders. Route 19 has a bevy of storefronts and commerce centers, including Costco, Best Buy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Party City, Giant Eagle and ALDI. Pittsburgh natives will also recognize Primanti Brothers, which is a citywide sandwich purveyor. Big box stores like Target and Lowe's Home Improvement are found at Cranberry Commons. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) provides emergency services, among other medical care, and is a top local employer. McKesson, a regional medical supplier, and Kawneer, an architectural firm, are also leading local employers with campuses nearby. For Fernway residents, downtown Pittsburgh is a 20-mile ride along interstates 79 and 279. "Highway access is key for people considering a move here. They'll get you wherever you want to go," Eagle says. Westmoreland Transit Authority provides public bus stops in the community for commuters who would rather ride than drive. The closest airport, Pittsburgh International, is about 30 miles from the community.