Rural living near parks and events in South Franklin Township
South Franklin Township is a rural community just a few miles south of Washington. While suburban neighborhoods have cropped up between some hills and dales, it remains an overwhelmingly quiet pocket of farmland and forests in Washington County. Peaceful country living in southwestern Pennsylvania’s rolling landscape is the township’s main selling point, but it also offers convenience to lovely parks and recreation areas, family-friendly events, a small airport and Interstates 70 and 79 when you need to visit Pittsburgh.
Costs of homes and acreage in the Washington County countryside
“South Franklin Township is definitely more of a rural area,” says Judi Agostinelli, an associate broker with Century 21 Frontier Realty who’s specialized in southwestern Pennsylvania for 34 years. “There are lower taxes in Washington County than in Allegheny County. ... You can get more value for your money in a house.” Everything from classic colonials to ranch-style homes line the township’s country roads, surrounded by half-acre lawns or secluded on upward of 10 acres. Although many homes are set between woods and active farmland, a handful of housing developments with and without homeowners’ associations offer a more suburban neighborhood. Maple Hills is a newer community of ranch-style homes where HOA fees fund lower-maintenance living. Single-family homes built before the 1990s range from the upper $100,000s to the upper $400,000s, while houses built in the 1990s through 2020s range from the upper $300,000s to the upper $700,000s. Manufactured homes can sell from around $20,000 to the upper $100,000s.
Commuting to Washington and Pittsburgh
Washington, the county seat and home to major employers like UPMC Washington Hospital, is around 7 miles from South Franklin Township. Pittsburgh is about 35 miles away via nearby Interstates 70 and 79.
Attending the McGuffey School District
South Franklin Township is served by the McGuffey School District. Kids can attend the highly rated Joe Walker Elementary School, located in South Franklin Township.
Close to recreation and amenities in Washington
You might enjoy hunting in the woods or fishing in creeks on your own land. There are other public and private recreational amenities in the area for spending time outdoors. Close to home, you’ll find:
- South Franklin Township Park, a rolling community park with playground equipment, picnic pavilions and athletic fields
- Lone Pine Country Club, where members enjoy an 18-hole golf course and private dining
- EQT Park, home of the Washington Wild Things Frontier League baseball team
Outside of stopping into Dollar General, you’ll head to Washington and its surrounding strip malls for most dining and big-box shopping.
A community with a rural feel and family-friendly annual events
South Franklin Township is a quiet place with a much slower pace of life than the suburbs of Washington and Pittsburgh. Nearly half the township’s land is classified as agricultural in nature. “A lot of people stay there when they move to South Franklin Township,” Agostinelli says. Although neighbors might live far apart, they can get together for township-sponsored events throughout the year. South Franklin Township Park is a venue for holiday festivities, including an annual Easter egg hunt and trunk-or-treat, as well as an annual car cruise. The summertime tradition draws classic car enthusiasts to show off their rides and enjoy an afternoon of live music and food trucks.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
