Nesquehoning is a Narrow Valley borough from the region’s coal era
At the base of the Broad Mountain barrier ridge, Nesquehoning is a rural Carbon County borough home to approximately 3,300 residents, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020. Although the borough covers an area of nearly 22 square miles, more than half of its residents and almost all commercial and municipal buildings are located in the borough’s Nesquehoning Village. Like many other towns across Northeastern Pennsylvania, Nesquehoning is a product of the region’s anthracite coal industry, which peaked in the early 20th century; the borough was established after the discovery of anthracite in the area in 1785, and it is the oldest mining town in Carbon County. Although the coal industry has been in a national decline since, coal production remains steady in this area, going hand-in-hand with the regional railroad industry. Many residents commute to work in nearby Lehigh Valley or farther away to major cities like Allentown; despite its rural location, Nesquehoning has a couple of major thoroughfares running through it. “The main commuter highway is Route 209, which runs east-west, but it can get pretty backed up around rush hour,” says Kurt Fretz, a Realtor with Great American Real Estate Company who has decades of experience selling homes in this region. Fretz adds that tourists are attracted to this area because of Jim Thorpe, a small-town destination that neighbors Nesquehoning and features abundant outdoor recreation and an eclectic Historic Downtown. With less than 5 miles between Nesquehoning Village and Jim Thorpe, borough residents can easily attend the town’s festivals, dine at restaurants on Broadway or hike along scenic trails.
Affordable traditional-style homes and townhouses
Homes listed for sale in Nesquehoning sell steadily and spend an average of 28 days on the market, nearly half the average number of days a listing spends nationally. Additionally, with a median sale price of approximately $170,000, homes are relatively affordable here compared to state and national levels. Roughly 75% of the housing stock in Nesquehoning is single-family homes, most of which range from about $100,000 to $300,000. In the borough’s Hauto Valley Estates subdivision, homes typically start around $250,000 and can range up to $420,000. Townhouses and other multifamily units often cost between $80,000 and $220,000. While there is a mix of housing styles throughout the borough, some of the most common include ranch-style properties, row homes and 20th-century dwellings with traditional architecture. Craftsman-style homes and farmhouses on larger, more rural lots are also common. Nesquehoning has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 3 out of 10, lower than the national average score of 4.
Long-standing highways and new scenic railroads
Because of the borough’s sprawling countryside setting, Nesquehoning residents primarily rely on cars for daily transportation. The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANta) offers limited bus services. Arterial highways like U.S. Route 209 and Pennsylvania Route 54 branch across the borough and are easily accessible for commuters. Urban hubs like Allentown, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton are home to major regional employers and are all just under an hour’s drive away. Thirty miles from Nesquehoning, just outside Allentown, Lehigh Valley International Airport offers commercial flights. The closest 24-hour emergency room is located at St. Luke’s Hospital – Miners Campus in Coaldale, only 7 miles away.
In the summer of 2024, the brand-new Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station opened, and the borough’s first passenger train, operated by Reading and Northern Railroad, went into service. With antique locomotives and rural routes, these passenger trains are mostly scenic rails for local tourism destinations and are not intended to be commuter rails.
Community parks and athletics in Nesquehoning
The Borough of Nesquehoning’s Recreation Commission oversees several local parks and regularly hosts community events and various youth activities at the Nesquehoning Recreation Center. Behind the recreation center is the Nesquehoning Little League Field, and farther down the road in a wooded area is a grassy field complex often used for youth soccer team practices. Playgrounds are located at John F. Cerchiaro Memorial Park and Earl Johnson Memorial Park, both in Nesquehoning Village. Cerchiaro Memorial Park also has a basketball court and open lawn space for picnics. The Narrow Valley Sportsplex is a large indoor facility with modern athletic equipment and facilities for eight different sports, as well as a fitness center stocked with strength and cardio equipment.
Jim Thorpe is a neighboring tourist destination
Bordering a large swath of Nesquehoning, the vibrant town of Jim Thorpe is a popular tourist destination for outdoor recreation. Often referred to as “Little Switzerland of America,” the town is also known for its European-like architecture and eclectic design. “Jim Thorpe has a very antique feel to it,” says Fretz. “They’ve got plenty of outdoor activities up there, like whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River.” The river runs through the Lehigh Gorge State Park, which connects directly to the town via a pedestrian trail. Hiking and mountain biking trails weave through the park, flanked by scenic overlooks and natural attractions. In Jim Thorpe, people can also explore several museums, find shopping and dining in the Historic Downtown area, climb aboard the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, and attend town events and seasonal celebrations like the Fall Foliage Festival.
Students attend Panther Valley schools
Students in Nesquehoning are zoned for the Panther Valley School District, which receives an overall C-minus rating from Niche. Panther Valley Elementary serves kindergarten through third grade, while grades four through six can attend Panther Valley Intermediate. Seventh through 12th-grade students may head to Panther Valley Junior/Senior High School. All three schools receive C ratings. The district’s athletic department oversees 11 sports, many of which are split into teams for varsity, junior varsity and junior high programs. Faith-based, private education options are located in the nearby borough of Tamaqua: St. Jerome Regional School serves students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, while Marian Catholic High School is a B-plus-rated institution for secondary students.
Shopping and dining amenities in Nesquehoning Village
There aren’t many commercial establishments and businesses in Nesquehoning, but there are enough to cover most basic daily necessities. Most of these commercial amenities are concentrated in Nesquehoning Village, where residents can buy groceries at Redner’s Warehouse Market and browse everyday household items at CVS or Dollar General. Aside from fast-food chains and convenience stores, local dining options include places like Rosetta’s Pizza in Nesquehoning Village and Macaluso’s, a contemporary Italian restaurant attached to the Lantern Lodge hotel. The Carbon Plaza Mall in Lehighton has big-box retailers like Walmart, Big Lots, Marshalls and Lowe’s Home Improvement, 10 miles away.
