Polk Township in Monroe County is surrounded by the Poconos
Amid dense forests and patches of farmland, Polk Township in Monroe County is a widespread rural community that is home to nearly 7,500 residents, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020. Set in the heart of the iconic Pocono Mountains, residents are often drawn to the township for its relatively affordable housing costs compared to other parts of the region. “Once you cross the Blue Mountain ridge from the Lehigh Valley to Monroe County, the home prices start to dip a bit, especially compared to costs in the valley,” says Kurt Fretz, a local Realtor with Great American Real Estate Company who has decades of selling homes in the Poconos and Lehigh Valley. The median price for a single-family home here hovers around $300,000, lower than both the state and national medians. Although surrounded by a series of mountain ranges, Polk Township itself is set in a lower-lying area at the mountains’ base. “The Pocono Mountains are relatively hilly, but the township has more flat areas that I would describe as gently rolling hills,” Fretz says. Industry across the Poconos is heavily centered on tourism to the region’s numerous outdoor destinations and four-season ski resorts, which collectively welcome tens of millions of visitors every year. “For the most part it’s just smaller companies and area businesses employing people in the townships, but there aren’t a lot of large industrial factories or anything like that in the area,” Fretz says.
Midcentury styles and new builds meet in Polk Township
The popularity of the area has translated to properties selling quickly here, as more and more homes are becoming full-time residences. Listings spend an average of 26 days on the market before being sold in Polk Township, which is a significantly shorter period of time than the national average. “The homes here are from a bunch of different age groups and there’s a big mix of styles, but we’re now seeing a lot of new construction happening here and throughout the Poconos in general,” Fretz says. “This used to be a huge vacation property area, but more and more people are turning those properties into full-time homes.” Midcentury bungalows, ranch-style homes and bi-level properties mostly range from about $150,000 to $400,000, while larger New Traditional homes and contemporary colonial-styles often cost between $400,000 and $600,000, though a handful have sold for nearly $900,000.
Pleasant Valley School District for K-12 students
Polk Township is one of four Monroe County townships zoned for the Pleasant Valley School District, which covers grades K-12 four total schools. Students in kindergarten through second grade can start off at Pleasant Valley Elementary, which receives a B rating from Niche. Pleasant Valley Intermediate serves grades 3 through 5; students in grades 6 through 8 can attend Pleasant Valley Middle. The intermediate and middle school are both rated C-plus. Pleasant Valley High School has a B-minus rating and offers students area-specific extracurriculars like ski club. The Pleasant Valley School District is one of four in Monroe County that partners with the Monroe Career and Technical Institute (MCTI), which accepts applications from students in secondary schools. Students enrolled in the program spend each school day split between MCTI and their assigned district high school.
Outdoor recreation across the Pocono Mountains region
Set on a bucolic landscape in the midst of the Pocono Mountains region, Polk Township is flush with opportunities for outdoor recreation. Between the months of April and November, the 18-acre Polk Township Nature Park opens to the public and welcomes parkgoers to observe wildlife and relax at picnic areas along a network of walking trails. Polk Township is home to two golf courses, both located just off U.S. Route 209 near the Kresgeville community: Indian Mountain Golf Course has a 9-hole layout, while Hideaway Hills Golf Club features an 18-hole course and on-site clubhouse. Both golf courses are open to the public and offer varying membership rates. Residents can find hiking trails and fishing spots around the adjacent Penn Forest and Wild Creek reservoirs. Jonas Mountain Nature Preserve in the township’s northern area covers 417 acres and has a network of hiking trails and cold-water creeks. The nearest ski area, Blue Mountain Resort, is a 20-minute drive away and offers dozens of winter sports amenities, including 40 trails and slopes for skiers and snowboarders.
Convenience stores and local dining options
Commercial amenities are somewhat limited in Polk Township, but there are plenty of offerings nearby to satisfy residents. “The townships around here all have their own little shopping centers and stuff, so people usually don’t have to drive more than 25 minutes to get to a place with some shopping and restaurants,” Fretz says. For Polk Township, that shopping area is Kresgeville, a small community with convenience stores, local businesses and a handful of dining options like Frank’s Pizzeria and Cherry’s Family Restaurant. A ShopRite grocery store is located 6 miles up the road in nearby Brodheadsville. Outside of Kresgeville, locally owned establishments and community farms with fresh produce stands are scattered throughout the township.
Convenience to U.S. Route 209
Polk Township is a car-dependent community, with the nearest public transit service being the Monroe Plaza bus stop in Brodheadsville, about 10 miles east. U.S. Route 209 is a busy state highway that cuts across the township through Kresgeville in a southwest-northeast direction, leading to Brodheadsville. According to Kertz, Route 209 is one of Monroe County’s arterial highways, and can often get congested with traffic during busy times. Other arterial roads traveling across the township include Pennsylvania Route 534, also known as Scenic Drive, which follows a more north-south route through the county. For anyone looking to catch a flight, it takes approximately 45 minutes to drive from Polk Township to the Lehigh Valley International Airport just outside Allentown. St. Luke’s Hospital Carbon Campus is 14 miles away and offers 24-hour emergency services.
