West O'Hara

Winding up the richly forested hills above Sharpsburg and the Allegheny River, West O’Hara Township is a verdant introduction to the North Hills suburbs of Pittsburgh. “It’s an interesting place. O’Hara Township isn’t contiguous, there’s five different parts that border the Fox Chapel borough,” says Lynn Niman, a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway who has lived in O’Hara Township since 2005. “The school district is such a draw, but none of the schools are actually in Fox Chapel borough – they're all in the outside townships.” Curled around one of Pittsburgh’s most affluent boroughs and spreading downhill toward riverside commercial hubs and recreation, West O’Hara Township creates a suburban experience as varied as its topography. Whether collecting in quiet subdivisions or lining up on long, grassy stretches between coves of woods, West O’Hara Township’s single-family homes come in a lively blend of architectural styles and price ranges. Those built in the 1970s or later boast upward of four bedrooms and range from simple Colonial Revival forms to grander New Traditional Craftsman designs and sell for $330,000 to $925,000 depending on lot size and interior upgrades. Large New Traditional homes from the 2020s can sell for up to $2 million. Simpler vernacular homes from the 1950s and 1960s like ranch-style, Minimal Traditional and colonials sell for $215,000 to $500,000 depending on lot size and renovation levels. Condos and townhouses built in the 1970s through early 2000s sell for $380,000 to $835,000 plus varied HOA fees in the mid-three figures. Early 20th-century homes built close to Sharpsburg along Kittanning Pike sell in the low $100,000s. West O’Hara Township has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10 compared to the national average of 4. Kerr Elementary School earns an A-plus from Niche, as do Dorseyville Middle School and Fox Chapel Area High School. “The Pittsburgh Business Times named Fox Chapel the No. 1 public school district in Western Pennsylvania of 2024. They’re always ranked high, but this was their first time as No. 1. I’m sure they’re very proud,” Niman says. “I sent all six of my kids through the district. It’s a huge driver of the real estate market. It draws so many people in academia, medicine and technology working in Pittsburgh – they're going to demand their kids have a good education.” Younger kids can get a head start on education through the Elementary Pre-Kindergarten Program at Kerr Elementary or through the preschool at St. Joseph Church. Meadow Park is the largest developed park in O’Hara Township, centering around an expansive ballfield, fenced tennis court complex and tree-shaded playground and pavilion area. Short, overgrown paths through the woods on the park’s fringes lead to ridges overlooking Sharpsburg and the house-dotted hillsides across the Allegheny River. Smaller community parks like Woodland Park and George J. Sacco Park pop up throughout the township, combining grassy, wide-open fields with amenities like colorful playgrounds, well-kept basketball courts and the berry-planted Edible Trail. Those wanting to get out on the Allegheny River can head down to James Sharp Landing in Sharpsburg to make use of the fishing pier and boat launch. Members of Chapel Gate Swim Club hit the pool and snack bar all summer long. While West O’Hara Township’s commercial life is limited, a few shopping and dining strips are less than 4 miles away. The Waterworks Mall is anchored by a Market District and larger retail storefronts like Petco and Barnes & Noble, joined by restaurants ranging from Burgatory to Aladdin’s Eatery. Further shopping plazas and storefronts line both sides of Route 8, with notable chains including Aldi, Shop ‘n Save and the Shaler Eat'n Park. Sharpsburg’s craft beer scene has seen a boost over the past decade, introducing trendy breweries like the Dancing Gnome and Hitchhiker to former industrial buildings in the blocks near the Allegheny River. Cutting through Sharpsburg or heading down to Route 8 in Shaler, commuters can merge onto Route 28 for an 8-mile commute into downtown Pittsburgh. “Now that the work on 28 is done, you can be downtown in 12 minutes, and you don’t have to go through the tubes,” Niman says. Rush hour travelers know to add extra time to allow for traffic. Hidden up a valley behind Sharpsburg, Camp Guyasuta has long been a hub for Scouts and corporate groups wanting to test their mettle on the high ropes course and ziplines or rent a cabin for a weekend communing with nature. For one night each October, the grounds are overtaken by Haunted Guyasuta, a beloved festival combining crisp autumnal attractions like a pumpkin patch, hayride and bonfire with an eerily decorated path through the woods. Ticketholders can walk the trails without fear in the late afternoon, but after dark, volunteer ghouls from local Scout troops delight in jump-scaring passers-through. Some of the township’s small waterways can become saturated and flood during unusually heavy rainfall. Storm surge and run-off leading from the hills down to the lowest-lying section of Kittanning Pike has been one of the biggest problems historically, leading O’Hara Township to invest in retention ponds to slow the flow.