West Hazleton blends industry, housing and history
Nestled in Luzerne County, West Hazleton is a compact borough just outside its namesake, the city of Hazleton. The borough had a population of nearly 5,200 residents in 2020, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau. Founded in 1887, this area is rooted in the anthracite coal mining industry, which peaked around the turn of the 19th century and has since become largely inactive. Aside from residential properties, West Hazleton is also home to a large industrial park, which serves as a major local employment hub with a focus on manufacturing and distribution. "Hazleton is the region's urban hub and people come to this area for its commerce," says Timothy Klotz, a local Broker/Owner of TNT Premier Real Estate who has over two decades of experience selling properties in this area. The borough has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 5 out of 10, slightly higher than the national average score of 4.
Midcentury builds to new construction
Single-family homes are the most prevalent type of housing option in West Hazleton. Styles range from midcentury ranchers and Cape Cod dwellings to traditional styles and modern bi-level homes. These single-family properties typically cost between $140,000 and $350,000, with newer builds usually skewed near the higher end of that range. Prices for townhouses and other multifamily units usually range from approximately $150,000 to $300,000. With an average home value of about $190,000, homes here are relatively more affordable compared to housing costs for the greater Hazleton metropolitan area and national figures. West Hazleton has more renters than homeowners.
Zoning for Hazleton Area School District
Students living in West Hazleton are zoned for the Hazleton Area School District, which receives an overall C rating from Niche. West Hazleton Elementary and Middle School serves kindergarten through eighth grade and is rated C-minus. Secondary students in grades nine through 12 can attend Hazleton Area High School, a B-minus-rated institution. The Hazleton Area Career Center is a vocational school just over a mile away from West Hazleton. It sits directly across from the Hazle Township Early Learning Center.
Shopping and dining options along Susquehanna Boulevard
Many of West Hazleton’s shopping and dining amenities are located along Susquehanna Boulevard, either as standalone buildings like Weis Markets and Lowe’s Home Improvement or part of strip malls like Valmont Plaza. Less than 3 miles from West Hazleton is Laurel Mall, a massive indoor shopping complex with national retailers and department stores like Bath & Body Works, Old Navy and Boscov’s.
Getting around the greater Hazleton area
Running along the western border of West Hazleton is Interstate 81, a major regional thoroughfare that runs approximately 11 miles north and connects with the east-west Interstate 80. Commuters can also easily access Pennsylvania Route 924, a minor highway that runs along the southern edge of the borough. Hazleton Public Transit operates fixed bus routes through this area, many of which take riders straight into downtown Hazleton. The nearest commercial airport, Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport, is approximately 37 miles from West Hazleton, which translates to a roughly 45-minute drive. The Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton campus has a 24-hour emergency room only 2 miles away.
Outdoor recreation at Hazle Township Community Park
Hazle Township Community Parks sits just outside West Hazleton and offers a large green space full of outdoor recreation amenities, including playgrounds, walking trails and fishing spots around Lake Irena. Also, in the park there are several athletic facilities for soccer, track and field and baseball.
