A growing township in the North Hills
In the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pine Township is seeing an influx of new construction as Allegheny County continues to expand further from the city center. “In Pine Township, location, location, location is key,” says Linda Honeywill, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and longtime resident. “It’s a bit further north outside of the city, and it used to be mostly farmland until developers discovered the Pine-Richland area in the 1990s. There have been a lot of new construction communities since then, and it’s still growing and developing today.” With a central location along the northern edge of Allegheny County, the township is less than 20 miles from Pittsburgh and offers access to major thoroughfares like Interstate 76, also known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The community is also known for the top-rated Pine-Richland School District, which Niche ranks the 12th-best school district in the Pittsburgh Area. “The school district is really a major draw for families just because of all the events that the community and the schools offer,” Honeywill says.
New construction, custom builds and a golf course community
The township features a mix of established subdivisions and new construction developments. “Pine Township is one of the last communities in the area to be developed,” says Helen Sosso, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and Pittsburgh native. “Housing is generally higher priced, and the lots are bigger.” While the median lot size is just over half an acre, sprawling estates can sit on up to five acres of land. More established residential communities date to the late 1900s and feature a mix of traditional ranch-style, bi-level and Colonial Revival homes that sell for $450,000 to $730,000. Custom-built properties embrace a variety of architectural styles, including elements of French Provincial and contemporary design. Prices for these custom builds typically range from $650,000 to $1.6 million. Those looking for more recent construction can find New Traditional homes selling for $775,000 to $2 million. Larger estates are common in the Treesdale subdivision, which surrounds the Treesdale Golf & Country Club in the northern half of town. “Treesdale is a major subdivision, but it’s not just a golf course. It’s like a lot of Florida communities where you have different kinds of housing in separate villages that all have different pricing,” Sosso says. There are also several townhouse developments in Pine Township, and townhouse prices range from $375,000 to $550,000. The township’s overall CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Air Force JRTOC program at Pine-Richland High School
The Pine-Richland School District serves the township and has an average student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. Students can attend Wexford Elementary School before moving on to Pine-Richland Middle School and Pine-Richland High School, all three of which receive an A from Niche. The high school offers an Air Force JROTC program that teaches students about American citizenship and aerospace science while preparing them for future leadership roles. "The school district also has incredible sports programs, and a lot of athletes make it to the professional level," Honeywill says. Nearby private school options include the Eden Christian Academy, which serves prekindergarten through 12th grade across three campuses and earns a B-plus from Niche.
Athletic facilities, splash pad and recreation center at Pine Communit
Pine Community Park anchors the township with over 105 acres of green space. It has various athletic facilities, a playground and a paved walking path that loops around Pine Township Park Pond. The park is also home to the Pine Community Park Splash Pad and the Pine Community Center, which offers fitness classes and educational programs for all ages. North Park extends into the southern half of Pine Township and covers more than 3,000 acres, making it the largest green space in Allegheny County. "That's a huge park for walking, biking, kayaking, pickleball, golf and anything else you can think of," Sosso says. With an 18-hole golf course, a 2-million-gallon swimming pool and an outdoor ice rink, it’s a four-season destination for recreation. An extensive trail system surrounds North Park Lake, a popular spot for paddle boating and fishing that’s stocked with rainbow trout throughout the year. Residents can become members of the Treesdale Golf & Country Club, which sits in the northern half of town and features three nine-hole golf courses designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer.
Community events include the annual Holiday Dazzle
The township hosts seasonal festivities in Pine Community Park. Each summer, Pine Township Community Day brings food trucks, live music and a dazzling fireworks display to the park. Holiday Dazzle features plenty of seasonal festivities, including carriage rides, a cookie-decorating contest and a festive sing-along in the Pine Community Center. “There are lots of different events. We also have an Easter egg hunt, a sweethearts dance and things like that,” Honeywill says.
Shops and restaurants on the U.S. Route 19 corridor
U.S. Route 19 winds through the southwestern corner of town and is a popular spot for shopping and dining. The commercial corridor hosts shopping centers such as the Village at Pine, which offers casual restaurants like Forgotten Taste Pierogies, Bartram House Bakery and The Oven Pizza Co. The shopping complex also has big-box stores like Market District Supermarket, Ace Hardware and Aldi. Other local favorites include Wexford General Store Antiques and Napa Prime Chophouse, an upscale steakhouse with crystal chandeliers and white tablecloths.
Access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and distance to Pittsburgh
Outside of its residential subdivisions, Pine Township is heavily car-dependent. Residents have access to major thoroughfares like U.S. Route 19 and Interstate 76, also known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Interstate 79 is about 4 miles west and connects with Interstate 279 on the way into Pittsburgh, less than 20 miles away. The township lacks public transportation, and Pittsburgh International Airport is about a 30-mile drive away. AHN Wexford Hospital sits along the U.S. Route 19 corridor and boasts a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
