Suburban living with a rural feel in Eastern Pennsylvania
Sandwiched between the boroughs of Bath and Nazareth is the Upper Nazareth Township — a cornfield-laden region offering laid-back suburban living. Just 3 miles west of Nazareth's downtown area, Upper Nazareth Township sits in proximity to all of the borough's attractions while still boasting a rural and industrial feel in the heart of Northampton County. "People who come in from out of state, as soon as they move here, they just feel like they were welcome," says local Associate Broker Rebecca Miklas of Miklas Realty, who grew up in the township. "It has a welcome, home-town hospitality type of feel."
Contemporary and Colonial homes in a competitive market
Upper Nazareth Township's subdivisions primarily contain contemporary colonial homes with big front yards, though ranch-style and split-level dwellings can also be found along Bath Pike. A smaller home with three bedrooms can price between $200,000 and $350,000 while larger properties containing 3,000-plus square feet may range from $500,000 to upwards of $700,000. Upper Nazareth Township's housing market is fairly competitive with some homes selling within four or five weeks after being listed.
Highly rated schools in the Nazareth Area School District
Upper Nazareth Township students go to schools under the Nazareth Area School District umbrella. Children from kindergarten through Grade 4 may go to Lower Nazareth Elementary School before moving on to Nazareth Area Intermediate School for Grades 5 and 6. Nazareth Area Middle School serves children in Grades 7 and 8 while teens attend Nazareth Area High School, which offers a wealth of extracurriculars from a competitive athletics program to a strong fine arts department. Each school earns an overall grade of A-minus or better from Niche.
Local eateries and shops headline Nazareth's downtown strip
Residents of Upper Nazareth Township have lots of food options to choose from. The roadside Slate Quarry Hotel serves as a hot spot to catch the big game with a burger and fries while Emily's Ice Cream in downtown Nazareth is a local gem, not only for its homemade ice cream, but also the antiquated Civil War-era building that houses it. For a home-cooked meal, locals can pick up fresh meats and produce from the nearby Giant off Nazareth Pike. Downtown Nazareth also offers small retail shops and additional restaurant options. "There's so much that you can do," Miklas says. "You stroll through it and you feel like you're walking through a Hallmark movie with all the shops and stores along the main drag."
Community events and classic guitars
In proximity to Nazareth proper, Upper Nazareth Township locals can visit the signature Central Square, which hosts the weekly Nazareth Farmers Market each Saturday from May to October, while Tuskes Community Park off Bath Pike is a hot spot for local athletes. The park contains several sports fields on top of basketball courts and a playground perfect for friendly playdates. It also hosts the annual Upper Nazareth Community Days carnival, which offers live entertainment, a beer tent and a fireworks show each summer. History buffs will never be bored in downtown Nazareth. The Moravian Historical Society's Whitefield House Museum on East Center Street draws lovers of theology while musicians can visit the Martin Guitar Museum and its 1833 Shop to uncover the story of Martin's classic acoustic guitars.
Easy day trips to Philadelphia and New York
While downtown Nazareth is very walkable, Upper Nazareth Township residents will be better off with a car. Luckily, the township does have solid road access, offering locals easy drives along the area's farmland. Upper Nazareth Township is also under two hours from Philadelphia and New York, making for easy day trips to the big city.
