Sparsely populated township in Lackawanna County
Newton Township is comprised of mostly farmland in northeast Pennsylvania’s Lackawanna County. The community’s appeal lies in its rural lifestyle, proximity to Interstate 476 and spacious homes on large lots. Notably, students are zoned for the highly regarded Abington Heights School District. Conveniences are a short drive away: Clarks Summit and Scranton have most of the area’s restaurants and amenities, like the arcade, mini golf course and go-kart track at Lahey Family Fun Park. Within the township, entertainment is likely to revolve around nature; Newton borders a small section of the Susquehanna River, where locals frequently go canoeing and kayaking.
Newton’s rural residential landscape
Split-levels and farmhouses are spread out on roads that stretch alongside farms and fields. Single-family home prices range widely, from about $210,000 to $1.7 million. However, most homes cost under $500,000, and many are spacious, with mid-range homes about 3,000 square feet. On the low end, buyers can find smaller 20th-century homes sitting on at least half an acre. Homes with the highest price tags are likely to be 21st-century builds with more square footage and acreage. Some land parcels are also for sale.
The highly rated Abington Heights School District
Niche rates the Abington Heights School District as the best district in the Scranton area, giving it an A-minus overall. Students may attend Newton-Ransom Elementary, rated B-plus, before advancing to Abington Heights Middle and Abington Heights High, which are both rated A-minus. The high school has a vocational functional academic classroom program, which teaches academic and practical skills to students with learning disabilities. Students at Abington Heights High may also earn dual enrollment credits through the school’s partnership with Lackawanna College.
Outdoor recreation in Newton Township
While much of the land area in Newton is devoted to farms, there are some recreational opportunities as well. Forested hills surround Fords Lake, a hub for boating, kayaking and bass and bluegill fishing. Newton Recreation Center is a community center with a gym that also hosts events like book club meetings, flea markets and parties. It’s located across from Cedar BMX Track, which offers opportunities for riding and racing for all ages and skill levels. Nearby Hillside Park has a playground, a dog park and a walking path encircling a pond, where birdwatchers might spot resident eagles. Members of the Country Club of Scranton can play either the 18-hole Old Course or the Falls 9-Hole Course, dine at the clubhouse and attend happy hour on Friday evenings. The country club also has an outdoor pool with a slide and a snack bar, as well as a pond that is stocked with trout.
Restaurants and retailers a few miles from Newton
Other than Schultzville Deli, a casual pitstop offering snacks and hoagies, most stores and restaurants are located outside of Newton. Groceries are a few miles away at Weis Markets. Options become more plentiful closer to Scranton, with stores including Old Navy and HomeGoods at Viewmont Mall, and Target and The Home Depot along Scranton Carbondale Highway. Restaurants line State Route 11, like Tully’s Good Times, a popular sports bar, and State Street Grill, which serves cocktails and seafood in a contemporary setting.
Proximity to State Route 11 and Interstate 476
Newton is a car-dependent community; although there are no major highways running through the township, drivers can easily connect to State Route 11 to get to Scranton and to Interstate 476, which leads to Philadelphia. Clarks Summit State Hospital for psychiatric care is located in Newton, and Lehigh Valley Hospital is about 12 miles away. Air transit from Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is about 13 miles away.
