Curtin Township is a rural community in Centre County attracting those looking to live in a heavily secluded area. Located in the Appalachian Mountains, the town is made up of farmland, dense forest and Beech Creek running through its center. While most homes are scattered around the township, Orviston is a small community with a cluster of older homes. The now-defunct Beech Creek Railroad had a stop in Orviston until the early 1960s. Over the past 30 years, there’s been an increase in the number of vacation homes being built by those looking for a getaway in the mountains. “The recreational housing market is strong here,” says Boyd Phillips, a Realtor with Fish Real Estate, who’s been selling homes in the area for over five years. “There are newer recreational homes and homes that have been here for 30 years.”
Curtin is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys with acres of land for farmers.
Homes in Curtin, generally, are smaller in size with acres of land for recreation.
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Ranch-style homes starting in the $200,000s in Curtin Township
Homebuyers can find two- to four-bedroom ranch-style and colonial homes from the mid-to-late 20th century, as well as national-style homes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Houses are set along winding country roads tucked deep in forested areas, and most include large lots from about 3 to 26 acres. The homes in Orviston, though, are usually on lots that are less than an acre. Mid-to-late-1900s homes typically sell for $200,000 to $500,000, while late-1800s-to-early-1900s houses usually go for $50,000 to $100,000. The one- to three-bedroom log cabin vacation homes in town tend to sell for $125,000 to $400,000. The CAP Index gives Curtin a crime score of 1 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4.
Curtin homeowners typically have ranch homes with long driveways and open space land.
National style homes are seen in the town of Orviston with surrounding mountains in Curtin.
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Central Mountain High dual enrollment program
Students may start at Liberty-Curtin Elementary, which gets a C from Niche, for kindergarten through fourth grade, before going to Central Mountain Middle, which also has a C, for fifth through eighth grade. Central Mountain High, which also receives a C, offers a dual enrollment program with Pennsylvania State University. Penn State is just 20 miles south of Curtin. The public university has nearly 90,000 students and a sports program with 82 national collegiate team championships.
Fishing and camping at Bald Eagle State Park
Eight miles south of the township, Bald Eagle State Park is a 5,900-acre recreation hotspot along the Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir. There’s a marina and boat launches, fishing directly from the dam and a campground for overnight stays. The park also includes a playground and a sandy beach for lounging and swimming. “The town also has connectors to over 200 miles of get-on-and-go ATV trails,” says Phillips.
Dogs enjoy the outdoors with campers at Bald Eagle State Park.
The marina at Bald Eagle State Park has hundreds of boats where locals will set sail.
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Shopping and dining in Mill Hall
Locals must travel outside of town for shopping and dining. “If you want quick food or shopping, you can go to Mill Hall,” says Phillips. The town is 14 miles east and has a Walmart Supercenter and a Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Calico Creek Feed and Pet is a locally owned animal supply store that doubles as a veterinary clinic. There are also popular local restaurants like Curt's Smokin' Ribs and Original Italian Pizza.
Enjoy the famous Hard Birch Beer and soft pretzels at Floating Feathers Brewery near Curtin.
Walmart is located in Mill Hall for all basic needs in Curtin.
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Car-dependent community
Because of its rural nature, Curtin is car-dependent and Monument Orviston Road is the only street in and out of town. The closest hospital is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, located 15 miles east in Lock Haven. State College Regional is the closest airport, 18 miles south.
Curtin is back country lifestyle with mountainous views and scenery that locals love.
All terrain vehicles are convenient for many locals in Curtin to get up and down the mountain.
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Written By
Logan Soter-Reardon
Photography Contributed By
TJ Engler
Video By
Jacob Cooperman
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Megan Kennington,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Curtin, PA sell after 129 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Curtin, PA over the last 12 months is $290,000, up 87% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$290,000
Median Sale Price
$290,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$290,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
3
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
$87
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$134
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
Curtin Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
560
Median Age
49
Population under 18
21.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.4%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$70,672
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$89,165
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
79.7%
College Graduates
14.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.9%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
11''
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
