An active community with proximity to Pittsburg
The convenience of living less than 10 miles from downtown Pittsburgh brings many homebuyers to Shaler Township at first. “It’s about [being located] close to so many things, beautiful parks and recreation, highly sought-after, stable housing,” says Sharon McRae, Director of Shaler North Hills Library. Other buyers have discovered Shaler Township while home shopping in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, according to Matt Ohlsson of Coldwell Banker Realty, who has sold homes in the area for 18 years. “If you can’t buy in other parts of North Hills, Shaler is the place to go,” he says, citing lower property prices there. Once new residents get settled, many discover a connected community where people take the time to get to know each other, Ohlsson says. Throughout the year, township-sponsored events and festivals provide additional opportunities to strengthen relationships between neighbors.
Kids-only fishing at Fawcett Field and a waterfall at Fall Run Park
The township is home to several green spaces, and Fall Run Park is its largest and most scenic. “It’s one of the only parks in the area with a waterfall,” McRae says. The park’s mile-long trail follows the Fall Run creek, providing opportunities for birdwatching and photography. There are tennis courts at Duss Park and Farrell Field Park and two soccer fields at Denny Park. At Fawcett Field, soccer teams come to practice in the grass, and kids under 12 can go fishing in the creek. In the summer, the Crawford Pool opens up at Kiwanis Park. Kiwanis Park also has several sports courts, picnic shelters and a playground. Residents can stop by the Shaler North Hills Library, where there are regular story times and seasonal arts and crafts classes. Members of the library can check out books and borrow from the “library of things” — a collection of sports equipment, baking supplies and musical instruments, including Moog Theriminis and electric guitars.
Shaler Township events
Throughout the year, residents come to Kiwanis Park to play sports and meet up with friends, and the park is also the site of many township-wide events. In the summer, there are concerts, movies and Fourth of July fireworks. Kids wear their costumes there to trunk or treat on Halloween, and in November, the holiday season kicks off with the Light Up Night Parade, which features performances by local dance teams.
Mid-1900s homes and new builds along Pennsylvania’s rolling hills.
Historically, Shaler Township has been known for its relatively affordable homes. There are mid-1900s Colonial Revivals and brick ranch-style homes, as well as a few Victorian-era residences. Houses from the 1900s generally run between $100,000 and $450,000. Those on the low end often need extensive repairs. Homebuyers may also find more recently built New Traditional-style residences, which often list between $450,000 and $620,000. The median lot size is just under a quarter acre, and most properties consist of grassy front lawns with private driveways and tree-lined backyards. There is a small percentage of townhouses and semi-attached homes, which tend to sell between $200,000 and $450,000. The CAP Index crime score for the area is 2 out of 10, which is half the national average of 4.
Eat'n Park is an area staple
There are a few restaurants within the township, but Eat'n Park stands out as a local institution. “I would say that most people that live in the community have eaten at Eat'n Park on Route 8,” says Rob Strom, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Fox Chapel office who grew up nearby. “It’s like Denny’s. Most of your workers go in, have their breakfast in the morning and go to work.” Pierogi lovers head to Cop Out Pierogies, located next door in Etna, where they can choose from 25 different varieties. Nox’s On 8 is a casual restaurant where diners can opt for a Pittsburgh salad (a salad topped with French fries), some saucy wings or a hoagie while taking in a Steelers game. In the evenings, The Blue Goose Saloon is a popular spot for date nights or karaoke and drinks. Area grocery stores include Shop 'n Save, Giant Eagle and Aldi. The Ross Park Mall, about 5 miles west, has upscale chain stores, such as Burberry and Tiffany & Co.
A variety of extracurricular sports at Shaler Area High School
Students are zoned for the Shaler Area School District, which Niche rates a B-plus. Depending on their address, they may attend either Marzolf Primary School, Burchfield Primary School, Scott Primary School or Reserve Primary School. Marzolf earns an A on Niche, and the other three score A-minuses. From fourth through sixth grades, the B-rated Shaler Area Elementary School serves all township students. Shaler Area Middle School receives a B, and Shaler Area High School earns a B-plus. The high school offers more than 30 sports, including ice hockey, flag football and bocce. There are several colleges and universities near the community, including the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University.
Bus and car travel into Pittsburgh
Many residents make daily commutes into Pittsburg, and the main thoroughfares are state Routes 8 and 28, both four-lane divided roads. The area is relatively car-dependent, though Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses make a few stops along Mount Royal Boulevard. Air travel is available at the Pittsburgh International Airport, around 30 miles west. There are several emergency rooms within a 10-mile radius, including a Level I Trauma Center in the Allegheny General Hospital and a pediatric emergency room in the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
