Upper Allen

Along the Pennsylvania Turnpike just a few miles west of Harrisburg, Upper Allen Township was once a bustling agricultural hub for its orchards and grain farms. Today, the Cumberland County township is absorbing the capital city’s suburban growth, offering a blended rural-suburban feel set amidst a pastoral backdrop. “Upper Allen Township has been growing like crazy because of high demand,” says Jim Bedorf, a real estate expert on the Bedorf-Prince Team of Coldwell Banker Realty. Local Realtor Jan Wheeler notes the growth has positively impacted the community: “I have buyers coming to me who are specifically looking to move here because it’s just across the river from the state capital and has access to great schools.” “Upper Allen Township has a good mix of new and vintage properties,” Wheeler says, adding that the neighborhood has options for first-time to experienced homebuyers. “But Upper Allen Township has accessibility to builders and developers, which is how it’s experiencing its growth.” New construction and to-be-built styles come in the form of New Traditional single-family homes, ranging from $380,000 for 1,300 square feet to $812,000 for a four-bedroom home spanning over 3,700 square feet. Larger estates with lots up to 13 acres may fetch up to $1.1 million. Set in leafy subdivisions with wide streets, old farmhouses and ranch styles from the late midcentury period start from $224,500 and go up to $375,000. Bedorf says one of the area’s draws is that it’s relatively affordable compared to other suburban communities in the region because of North Allen Township’s low taxes and variety of home types. Residents are also attracted to the area due to Upper Allen Township’s highly-rated public school district, Mechanicsburg Area School District, which is ranked the third-best school district in Cumberland County by Niche. “Mechanicsburg schools are very desirable because they have full-day kindergarten,” Wheeler adds. Students start their education at Shepherdstown Elementary or Upper Allen Elementary, both of which earn a B-plus overall grade. Fourth and fifth graders attend B-plus-rated Elmwood Academy before advancing to Mechanicsburg Middle School, which receives a B. At A-minus-graded Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School, job shadowing and strong post-secondary preparation programs expose students to career and college opportunities. Upper Allen Township is also home to Messiah University, a private Christian institution that serves 3,320 undergraduate and graduate students. US Route 15 runs north and south through Upper Allen Township, and the neighborhood boasts proximity to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. “It’s a very easy commute to the capital and the rest of the metropolitan area,” Wheeler says, adding that residents like the township’s proximity to the major thoroughfares, which connects them to Pittsburgh to the west or Philadelphia to the east. The Harrisburg International Airport is a 28-minute drive away. Although residents are surrounded by green pastures, they can seek out additional natural spaces throughout the Township at a handful of neighborhood parks. Friendship Park and Winding Hill Park North offer colorful playgrounds and picnic areas, paved pathways and sporting facilities like baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Located behind Mechanicsburg Middle School, the 26-acre Trails and Trees Environmental Center features a grove of trees dedicated to past 1st-grade classes and cherished teachers who have passed. The grove's tree species, which include elms, red oaks, sycamores, Japanese cherry, and pecan, are also intended to represent various cities and historical landmarks. Though students and alumni come here to celebrate memories, others come to admire the butterfly-filled gardens and spot chirping sparrows and percussive woodpeckers. “Dining experiences in Upper Allen Township vary depending on tastes, from Korean to Italian,” Wheeler says. Apart from the slew of casual fast-food spots along the Turnpike and Route 15, family-owned mainstays like Ferrante’s Pizza and Momo BBQ are located just north of the neighborhood. Across from a CVS Pharmacy and a regional PaulB Hardware store, the Cracked Pot Coffee Shop employs young people transitioning out of foster care, helping create a space for community and personal growth inside a converted colonial-style home with outdoor seating on the portico. Grocery stores like GIANT and Weis Markets keep fridges and pantries stocked and are a mile or 2 away from homes. Both a family farm and an open-air market, Paulus Farm Market offers fresh produce and meats, baked goods, and homemade meals. Open Mondays through Saturdays, the farm is a seasonal attraction for its sunflower and snapdragon picking in the summer and farm animal petting and pumpkin patch in October.