Madison Township is a rural community near Moscow
Madison Township is a deeply rural community in Lackawanna County with a population of less than 2,500 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. census report. The township is home to three unincorporated villages: Aberdeen, Quicktown and Madisonville. Most of the community is residential, with houses on large lots surrounded by forested landscapes. The western edge of Madison Township borders Moscow, which has a selection of commercial amenities. According to Michael Taluto, a local Realtor with Keller Williams Real Estate, people often refer to the township and several other communities as falling under the greater Moscow area: “Madisonville, Madison Township, Covington, Moscow—they all fall under the same 18444 zip code,” he explains. Scranton, the closest urban hub, is about 16 miles from the township, a trip that typically takes less than half an hour without traffic. Madison Township has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4 and the lowest score possible.
Single-family homes span centuries and styles
Madison Township’s housing market covers a range of architectural styles, lot types and build years. Potential homebuyers can find everything from early 20th-century Craftsman homes to 1980s and 90s ranch styles to New Traditional houses constructed after the turn of the century. Most single-family homes cost between $170,000 and $460,000, though some larger, newer estates have sold for as much as $800,000. Madison Township has an average home value of $330,000, slightly higher than the Scranton Metro Area, which has an average housing value $260,000.
Zoning for the North Pocono School District
Madison Township is zoned for the North Pocono School District, which receives an overall B-plus rating from Niche. Students in kindergarten through third grade can attend primary school at Jefferson Elementary, which is rated A-minus, while North Pocono Intermediate School serves grades four and five and has a B-plus rating. North Pocono Middle and North Pocono High School are also rated B-plus. The high school offers a catalog of dual enrollment courses as part of its partnership with Lackawanna College, a private collegiate institution with a main campus located in Scranton.
Proximity to recreation in Moscow and Elmhurst Township
Although Madison Township has a rural landscape of farms, fields and forests, there are only a few public parks and recreation locations in the actual township. Most outdoor destinations, including golf courses, community parks and hiking trails, are in neighboring Moscow and Elmhurst Township. Curtis Reservoir is partially located in Madison Township and has a hiking trail along its perimeter; however, the reservoir does not allow fishing, boating or swimming activities. Golfing enthusiasts are less than 5 miles from Elmhurst Country Club, a private facility with an 18-hole course, and the public Marjon Golf Course, which features a 9-hole layout. Six miles away, Covington Park in Moscow has amenities like playgrounds, picnic shelters and athletic fields. The park is also home to Desandis Pond, which has a small beach and allows boating, fishing and swimming.
Outdoor dining and farm-to-table food in Madison Township
There are few options for shopping and dining in Madison. Wood Winery and Curran Brewing Company are two of those options, and both establishments take advantage of the rural setting by offering sprawling outdoor venues. Most residents go to Moscow or Scranton for shopping trips and errand runs. Moscow has discount chains like Dollar General and Family Dollar, and some locally owned establishments like Moscow Deli & Food Mart. The nearest supermarket, ShopRite, is less than 15 minutes from Madison Township and sits opposite an Ace Hardware. Viewmont Mall is a shopping destination in Scranton with clothing retailers and department stores.
Access to Pennsylvania Route 690
Madison Township is a car-dependent community with few major roads running through it. The only numbered thoroughfare, Pennsylvania Route 690, is a Lackawanna County highway that runs through Madisonville. Commuters can take Route 690 west directly to Moscow or east to cross over Interstate 84, which borders the township. The nearest access ramp to I-84 is a 10-minute drive away. Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is less than 22 miles from the township. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City has a 24-hour emergency department and is about 15 miles away.
