Middlesex

On the southern border of Butler County, Middlesex Township balances the dregs of Allegheny County’s suburban sprawl with long-established farmland lining country roads. “People settle in for a while, we’re not a transient community. A lot of families have lived on properties or farms for generations," says Joanna Echtler, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway who has lived in Middlesex Township for 11 years. “We are growing for sure, but not as fast as other townships because Middlesex is very conservative about growth. They want to preserve farmland. We’re not Cranberry or Adams and people want it that way.” Connected to Pittsburgh, Butler and Cranberry by routes 8 and 228, Middlesex Township supplies access to ever-evolving commercial and commuter centers without losing the stillness and serenity found on rural fields and tree-carpeted hills. Single-family homes are the norm throughout Middlesex Township, but the landscape and styles vary widely. “When you’re driving along, you’re going to see mostly properties built in the 1940s through 1990s, with some roads going off into subdivisions or past fields and farms raising livestock,” Echtler says. “The minimum lot size is almost an acre. They're beautiful once they mature.” Simple farmhouses, Cape Cods, ranch-style homes and bi-levels built from the early 1900s through 1990s mingle on long, tree shaded lots in view of neighbors or on acreages set far off the road, selling for $170,000 to $525,000. Scattered subdivisions like Blackhawk were developed in the 2010s through 2020s and cultivate a distinctly suburban, landscaped look, lining gently sloping streets with large New Traditional homes that sell for $450,000 to $750,000. Manufactured homes in the Sandy Hill Estates community sell for $11,000 to $75,000 plus an additional monthly lot fee of $415. Kids attend kindergarten and first grade at Mars Area Primary Center which earns a C-plus from Niche, second through fourth grade at Mars Area Elementary School which earns an A-minus, fifth and sixth grade at Mars Area Centennial School which earns an A-minus, seventh and eighth grade at Mars Area Middle School which earns a B-plus and ninth through 12th grade at Mars Area High School which earns a B-plus. High school students can make use of College Within the High School, a dual enrollment program that lets students take Butler County Community College courses during school hours. Route 8 bisects Middlesex Township, starting commuters on a 22-mile drive south into downtown Pittsburgh or an 11-mile drive north to Butler. While many rely on personal vehicles to get around, BTA buses also run from Butler to Pittsburgh in the morning and afternoon, stopping at the Glade Run Church Park n Ride. For more distant travels or recreational flying, Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport is a few miles north. Middlesex Township has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10 compared to the national average of 4. Scattered businesses, stores and restaurants spread along the Route 8 commercial corridor through the center of Middlesex Township. Specialty shops like Wagon Wheel Antiques and Dave’s Country Meats cater to loyal customers and highway passers-through looking for a break from the road. Colorful floral hanging baskets and stacked displays of fresh produce beckon return customers craving cider into Appleseed Farm & Market. Sunnyside Up Diner serves comfort food staples at breakfast and lunch and more upscale, rotating menus at dinnertime on Fridays. Those seeking a sweet treat can stop into Hammer’s Frozen Custard & Subs or Valencia Donut Co. For weekly grocery runs or retail shopping, locals head to dozens of retailers and restaurants 10 miles down 228 in Cranberry Township or commercial strips housing big names like Target, Walmart and Giant Eagle just a few miles south on Route 8. New playground equipment and athletic courts illuminated by stadium lights pocket the wide, grassy fields of Middlesex Township Community Park. Considering the number of outdoor enthusiasts who travel to Glade Run Lake Park to fish, boat and hike, it’s hard to believe that for several years in the 2010s the lake was drained, overgrown and abandoned thanks to a leak in the dam. "Residents restored Glade Run Lake. They raised millions of dollars to bring it back, people are very protective of it,” Echtler says. Golfers have their pick of Rittswood Golf Course and Pheasant Ridge Golf Club within the township and can head to several more courses in neighboring municipalities, including Conley Resort which is just over the township line. A few churches hold services throughout Middlesex Township. Throughout the year, the Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Company brings the community together to celebrate holidays. Egg hunts and photos with the Easter bunny mark festivals in the spring, while the colder months are broken up by Breakfast with Santa and festive firetruck parades that run throughout the township. After an extended hiatus, Middlesex Township Community Day is returning in August of 2024, packing bounce houses, live music, car and pet shows and other fair-style attractions at Middlesex Community Park. During times of unusually heavy rain, properties and roadways along Glade Run and other narrower waterways have a higher risk of flooding.