Quiet, small-town living in Palo Alto
Two miles east of Pottsville, Palo Alto is a Schuylkill County borough with home prices below the U.S. national median. “Palo Alto is quiet, little, small-town America,” says David Pedron, a broker at Re/Max Five Star Realty with over 19 years of experience in Schuylkill County. Streets are walkable, lined with single-family homes set close together. The community includes a few pocket parks, but businesses are sparse. “They go over to Pottsville [for shopping and dining],” Pedron says.
Bungalows and row-style homes built to last
Palo Alto offers bungalows and row-style homes, mostly built in the early to mid-20th century. “They’re well-constructed homes,” Pedron says. “They were built with real wood back then, too.” Each home differs in shape and color, though brick exteriors or white and gray lap siding are typical; many also have front porches. These single-family homes sit along narrow streets lined with parallel-parked cars, though some homes have attached garages. Prices range from about $50,000 to $250,000, depending on size, features and renovation needs. The median sale price is $130,000, compared to the U.S. national median of $420,000.
Athletics and dual-enrollment at Pottsville Area High
Palo Alto is part of the Pottsville Area School District, which is rated B-minus overall by Niche. Kids may start at Clarke Elementary, before moving to Lengel Middle and Pottsville Area High, all rated B-minus. At the latter, teens may take dual-enrollment courses for credit at Kutztown University, Luzerne County Community College and Penn State. Pottsville Area High also has a successful athletics department. In 2025, the boys’ basketball team won the PIAA District XI Class 5A championship.
Playgrounds, basketball and fishing
Palo Alto has a few pocket parks, each with similar layouts. Savory Street Park offers a playground and picnic pavilion, as does Taylor Street Park, which also has a basketball court. Bacon Street Park might be the most popular, with the largest playground out of the three parks, and two regulation-size basketball courts. Anglers can cast their lines in the Tumbling Run Reservoir for largemouth bass and chain pickerel. The Schuylkill River also flows through Palo Alto, and trails are nearby for hikers and joggers. There are more parks and green spaces in Pottsville, including the John F. Kennedy Memorial Recreation Complex, 3 miles away, with a pool and water slide.
Fast-casual eats and the Fairline Village Mall
Palo Alto is primarily residential, but businesses along Bacon Street include a salon, a laundromat and body shops. Costas Candies is the only dining establishment in the borough, offering light fare like ice cream, hot dogs and their signature club sandwich — two crackers with peanut butter smothered in chocolate.
In Pottsville, Claude A Lord Boulevard is lined with shopping and dining, including fast-food chains like Dunkin’ and KFC. For a quick bite, Original Italian Pizza has New York-style slices and hot subs. Nearby, the laid-back, 50s-retro Pottsville Diner offers comfort brunch bites, like chocolate chip pancakes, grilled sticky buns and the Everyday is Thanksgiving Sandwich with roasted turkey and cranberry sauce. Further up the road, big-box retailers like T.J. Maxx and Kohl’s anchor the Fairline Village Mall. Residents can grab groceries from Aldi or Weis Markets.
Yuengling and holidays in Pottsville
Palo Alto residents participate in Pottsville traditions. Every April, the Yuengling Light Lager Jogger 5K brings runners and beer aficionados to the streets of Pottsville for a quick race — and a cold one after. Lager lovers also enjoy the Schuylkill County Brew Fest in July, with over two dozen brewers, a homebrew contest and live music. There are holiday celebrations, too, like the annual Christmas tree lighting at Garfield Square and Christkindlmarkt (a holiday market) at the historic Frank D. Yuengling Mansion.
U.S. Route 209 and the nearest airport and hospital
U.S. Route 209 borders Palo Alto, granting access to Pottsville. Streets are generally sidewalk-lined and walkable, but residents drive when leaving the borough. Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street is 2 miles away, and Lehigh Valley International Airport is a 50-mile drive.
