Ford City

North Buffalo, Pa., a town in Armstrong County about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh, is considered by one observer to be both more convenient and more rural than its sibling township. “North Buffalo attracts more of the farmer type, whereas South Buffalo has more of a mix of white-collar and blue-collar workers. North Buffalo is mostly just blue collar,” says Bridget Fogarty, a Realtor with Century 21 American Heritage Realty who lives in nearby Buffalo Township. Residents who move to the area value country living in a quiet setting. Part of the DNA of North Buffalo includes large lots and homes that are spread out from one another. “You don’t know what your neighbor is cooking on their grill,” says Jon Doerr, a Realtor of 22 years with Berkshire Hathaway, The Preferred Realty. “Most people own property. Everyone out there lives on at least a half-acre,” adds Fogarty. Country homes from the 19th century, several renovated, include two stories, one story, single-family and traditional ranch-style homes. Home buyers can also find the occasional gated estate home surrounded by acres of lush, wooded property. Prices typically range from $78,000 to $2 million. The low end represents a complete fixer-upper, while the high end is that occasional estate. Only 16% of the area’s residents are renters. The average housing size is 1,865 square feet — the median lot comes in at 38,986 square feet. Doerr says that while neighbors don’t always get to know each other, folks in the community are very friendly — but also very private. The CAP Index crime score for the area is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score. Doerr says there are strip malls, storefronts or restaurants in the community, so residents will have to hop in their cars and travel to nearby Kittanning, a 6-mill trip. There, folks can take advantage of the several area eateries like Bugsy’s Pizza, Valley Dairy Restaurant, Dunkin Donuts and Allegheny Mariner, which patrons can access via boat. Located in West Kittanning, just north of the municipality, a Walmart Supercenter offers one-stop shopping for residents. North Buffalo kids can attend schools in the Armstrong County School District, which has a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. Niche grades the district a C-plus. Younger students can go to West Hills Primary and West Hills Intermediate, both B-rated schools. Teens can move on to Armstrong Junior-Senior High, a C-rated school where students can take Advanced Placement coursework and exams. Like many communities in the region, the Allegheny River provides plenty of recreational options. “The water is very important, as most people enjoy the rural lifestyle,” says Fogarty. “You have little inlets for kayaking, and if you’re a good enough kayaker, you can get out on the river. The Allegheny is large enough to support pretty big boats. There’s a lot of fishing and hunting. A lot of hunting clubs in the area.” Members of those clubs tend to take advantage of Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 247, a 452-acre state-run township property designated for hunting. Since residents value the river so much, it makes sense that events also revolve around it. The Ford City Memorial Park, a wooded green space just across the river, events including the annual Fourth of July celebration. Kittanning Riverfront Park features an amphitheater, which is attended by local concertgoers. Commuters can take Pennsylvania Route 28, also known as the Allegheny Valley Expressway, which connects drivers directly to downtown Pittsburgh in 35 miles. There is currently no public transportation provided in the community, but once again, a trip to Kittanning can offer access via Town & Country Transit.