Middlesex Township is a growing crossroads community
Anchored by the intersection of Interstates 81 and 76, Middlesex Township is a growing bedroom community between the larger boroughs of Carlisle and Mechanicsburg . “It’s a throughway, but there are little pockets of neighborhoods, and there is a whole lot of construction,” says Shannon Kincaid, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty and a longtime resident of south-central Pennsylvania. “You can get a really nice house and you’re close to Cumberland Valley High School.” Niche ranks the Cumberland Valley High as the best public high school in Cumberland County for 2025. The township also appeals to those who love the outdoors because of its access to hiking trails, parks and Conodoguinet Creek, which flows across the community.
The southwestern corner of Middlesex Township includes a portion of the United States Army Garrison Carlisle Barracks. One of the oldest active military bases in the country, it is home to the U.S. Army War College and the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center. The township is also home to a corporate office for Giant Food, several government offices and facilities, such as the Cumberland County Prison. Hotels and trucking-related industries round out the enclave’s diverse economy.
New construction homes and farmland properties east of Carlisle
Middlesex Township offers a variety of single-family homes that are either grouped together in traditional subdivisions or spaced out along winding country roads. The Meadows features Colonial Revivals, while the sought-after Meadowbrook Farms community has large neotraditional designs. New construction is filling developments such as the Cumberland Preserve and Cumberland Range Estates. Farmland-wrapped ranch-style homes offer acreage and mountain views. Bi-levels, farmhouses and custom homes can be found throughout the township. Most single-family homes range from $170,000 to $660,000. However, new construction and estate-inspired properties can exceed $850,000. Townhouses cost between $210,000 and $450,000. According to the First Street Foundation, properties along creeks have a flood risk, and wildfire is possible on and near Blue Mountain. Homes close to the interstates may be impacted by highway noise.
An A-rated school district and an above-average private option
The Cumberland Valley School District earns an A overall rating from Niche. The district has 11 schools, three of which serve Middlesex Township. Middlesex Elementary receives a B rating and Eagle View Middle gets an A. Three thousand students attend the A-rated Cumberland Valley High, which has a 9th Grade Academy that’s separate from its main campus for tenth through 12th graders. Several private schools are in the area, including the B-rated Carlisle Christian Academy. The small, private Dickinson College is nearby in Carlisle.
Families enjoy parks, creeks and access to the Appalachian Trail
The nearly 130-acre Middlesex Township Park is the community’s main hub for recreation, with playgrounds and a splash pad surrounded by fields and courts for various sports, from baseball to basketball. The park’s hilly and mostly wooded 18-hole Coyote Hills Disc Golf Course challenges players with tricky shots through towering trees. Families can connect with nature at Letort Falls Park, which offers fishing, swimming and kayaking near a small waterfall in Conodoguinet Creek. Area golf courses include the 18-hole Carlisle Barracks Golf Course, which is open to the public. The Appalachian Trail weaves through a patchwork of farmland and woods on the township’s eastern edge before climbing the steep ridge of Blue Mountain. State Game Lands No. 230 has more hiking trails, as well as an archery range and a shooting range. The surrounding region offers additional adventures, such as skiing and snowboarding at Roundtop Mountain Resort and camping at the lake-dotted Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
Dining on U.S. Route 11 and shopping in Carlisle
Most businesses in Middlesex Township are along U.S. Route 11. Between the hotels, trucking companies and car dealerships that line the thoroughfare are a few local restaurants. Napoli Pizza is a staple for Italian favorites, while the menu at Royal Kitchen features classic Indian dishes as well as Indo-Chinese cuisine. Moonlight Diner offers American fare. Kincaid says most shopping is done in Carlisle. The downtown area offers boutique shopping, while national retailers and supermarkets fill shopping centers close to Interstate 81.
Welcoming the fall season with an annual festival and community day
For the last 30 years, Middlesex Township has celebrated the arrival of autumn with a Fall Festival & Community Day. The one-day event held around the fall equinox in September takes over Middlesex Township Park with live music, food trucks, family-friendly games and pumpkin painting.
Two major interstates meet in Middlesex Township
Most residents drive to get around Middlesex Township. Commuters have access to Interstate 81 and Interstate 76, which is the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as well as to U.S. Route 11. “Central Pennsylvania is a big transportation hub. It’s the gateway to the west, north and south,” Kincaid says. Harrisburg , is about 20 miles from the township. Commercial flights are available at Harrisburg International Airport, less than 30 miles away. Rabbit Transit provides fixed-route and commuter bus service to specific destinations, such as the warehouses and distribution centers in neighboring Carlisle. The closest full-service hospital is UPMC Carlisle.
