Lower Macungie

The eastern side of Lower Macungie Township is a patchwork of transformed farmland, local parks, and a lively shopping and dining district in the Lehigh Valley. “The township is especially popular because we border Allentown. People can live in that small neighborhood and still quickly go to the grocery store,” says Joanna LaFaver, an experienced Realtor with Keller Williams and a lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley. Apart from highly rated schools, a wide selection of homes and a low CAP crime score of 2 out of 10, one of Lower Macungie’s biggest draws is its planned communities with ample outdoor recreation. Cycling enthusiasts may find their slice of paradise here in town, with miles of hiking and biking trails. Home styles in nearly every price range are found in eastern Lower Macungie. “The township is especially popular because there are so many choices when it comes to housing,” LaFaver says. “Homes move very fast, especially when they are updated professionally. The affordability runs the gambit depending on the neighborhood, the size of the neighborhood, and the lot.” Landscaped subdivisions with paved sidewalks give way to a mix of Colonial Revivals and New Traditional homes on spacious lots. Prices for these properties range from the mid $400,000s to the $800,000s, with some custom-builds selling for over $1 million. Other streets feature split-levels and ranch-style homes priced from the mid $200,000s to the lower $400,000s. Newer townhouses and condos built in the early 2000s typically range from the low $200,000s to the mid $500,000s. A few small communities also have manufactured homes for under $100,000. The East Penn School District serves the community, and Niche ranks it as the No. 3 best school district in Lehigh County. Younger students may attend A-minus-rated schools like Willow Lane Elementary and Eyer Middle School. Emmaus High School also earns an A-minus and offers both Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment courses. Lower Macungie is also home to The Hillside School, a private institution that serves kindergarten through eighth-grade students. It caters to those who have language-based learning disabilities like dyslexia. About 8 miles away, Allentown has two private liberal arts institutions: Cedar Crest and Muhlenberg College. Planned subdivisions are surrounded by preserved recreational areas, golf courses and the occasional privately owned farm. Locals can enjoy miles of wooded trails that meander along Little Lehigh Creek before cooling off with a drink at Rising River Brewery. Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park on Mosser Road spans 103 acres and has miles of paved and unpaved trails for walkers and cyclists. There are also soccer fields, an observation pier and tricycle tracks for young kids. Next door is the Valley Preferred Cycling Center – known by racing fans as “T-Town” – home to the country’s best cycling track. Both amateur racers and Olympic athletes come to bike at the velodrome. Shepherd Hills Golf Club is a nearby public golf course for those who prefer putting to peddling. Other well-known courses include Brookside and Lehigh Country Clubs. East Texas Park and Playground is the go-to spot for afternoon playdates, but nearly every neighborhood is within walking distance of its small community park. Further east, Camp Olympic offers amenities like a playground, basketball courts, disc golf courses, and a pump park. Hamilton Boulevard is the main commercial corridor in the town. Trexlertown Plaza is home to Giant for weekly grocery runs. Across the street, Trexler Mall features retailers like HomeGoods for a rainy day looking for upcoming holiday decor and Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park for a fun and adrenaline-filled weekend. Farther east, locals will find big box stores like Walmart Supercenter, Target, PetSmart, and Costco Wholesale. The Shelby offers a bright and airy atmosphere for New American fare. Patrons can enjoy cocktails from the comfort of their seats at Movie Tavern Trexlertown. Along Brookside Road, Buckeye Tavern is known for its burgers and resident ghost Susan, who reportedly walks the halls of the 200-year-old building. Other popular eateries range from Mexican favorites at Casa Catrina to upscale eats at Delizioso Italian Grill. Trexlertown has its own seasonal farmers market every Saturday. However, Macungie, a neighboring borough near the community’s southern border, hosts many events at Macungie Memorial Park. In the summer, the borough’s event calendar is jam-packed with activities daily. Food trucks that offer a range of options gather at Memorial Park weekly, while the seasonal Macungie Farmers Market takes place every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. The Fourth of July festival is one of the park’s biggest events, where shouts fill the air from lively cornhole and carnival games. Locals can also enjoy nearby events like the Great Allentown Fair, while smaller cities like Bethlehem offer first-class performances and endless festivals at SteelStacks. LANTA, also known as the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, has a few bus routes that run throughout the township, with many stops clustered around commercial areas along Hamilton Boulevard and Cetronia Road. However, much of the community is car-dependent, with the heart of Allentown about 8 miles away. U.S. Route 22 leads about 14 miles to Lehigh Valley International Airport. Interstate 476 leads residents about 60 miles to Center City Philadelphia. Other big cities like New York are about 95 miles away via Interstate 78. Ranked amongst the best healthcare facilities in the nation, residents are within 3 miles of two branches of the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest and Macungie.