Parker Township

Centered on the pastoral borough of Bruin, Pennsylvania's Parker Township offers a combination of rural seclusion and small-town energy more than 50 miles outside downtown Pittsburgh. You'll find a diverse collection of properties scattered along Main Street, ranging from compact cottages to Colonial Revival-style builds with red brick exteriors. Most of these homes include three bedrooms and just under 1,500 square feet of living space for under $150,000, which makes them popular starter home options for growing families.

As you move farther from the borough, homes become much more spread out, separated by acres of rolling forests and tilled farmland. Rustic ranch-style homes barely even make a dent in these 30-acre properties, but you'll still be paying around $300,000 for a parcel of this size. "You're really paying for the land here since the homes may or may not be updated. Some don't even have a septic system installed yet," says Realtor Kelly Raitano with RE/MAX Select Realtors. After selling multiple homes in the area, Raitano has learned that some properties can better serve her clients as blank slates. "Although many of the more rural properties come with barns or stables, they often need a lot of work," she notes. And when you're paying less than $10,000 per acre — Pennsylvania's average currently hovers around $30,000 per acre — it might be worth it to start from scratch and build the home you want, especially if you plan on caring for horses, donkeys or chickens for years to come.

If it's waterfowl you're after, though, you won't need the same amount of preparation, as multiple species reside just a few miles away in State Game Lands No. 95. Covering almost 10,000 acres, this woodland and wetland expanse is a popular hunting spot throughout the year, with a healthy population of white-tailed deer, black bears and wild turkey. Two spacious lakes are stocked annually with fish, and 6 miles of trails make it easy to navigate the area. You can even join up with the 10-mile North Country Trail for an even longer adventure. Closer to Main Street, kids will find thrilling, curving slides at Bruin Borough Community Park, which sits in the cradle of swerving Bear Creek. Beside the blue and green playground, you'll find a spacious picnic shelter perfect for setting up a casual lunch or cutting the cake at a weekend birthday party. As the only official park in the borough, though, it's also a popular location for after-school playdates.

Before hitting the playground, students living in the Parker Township will spend their days at one of two Karns City Area School District locations. The district provides bus transportation to and from the schools, but if you live far from Main Street, you might find the closest bus stop a few miles away. Most students will start at Chicora Elementary School, which maintains a grade of C on Niche. In seventh grade, students can move on to attend Karns City Area Junior Senior High School, which also maintains a grade of C on Niche. In ninth through 11th grade, interested students can get a jump start on a future career by enrolling in the Butler County Area Vocational Technical School, which offers courses in everything from graphic design to automotive technology — an essential job in an area that relies heavily on cars to get around.

When it comes to shopping and dining, you'll find the most accessible options in the nearby city of Parker. Here, you can pick up produce and freshly sliced meat from Welter's Country Market, one of the city's oldest businesses. Heading down North River Avenue, you'll find popular local joints like Bob's Place, a no-frills eatery with rotating weekend specials and an impressive list of homemade pies. If that doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, indulge in a double-scoop cone from Holy Sundae, a locally owned ice cream shop in an old church building. If you've ever dreamed of playing video games in church, this is the shop for you, as you'll find vintage arcade games tucked beneath the stained glass windows in a narrow side room. And if you want to continue the fun on your way home, you can stop for a round of bowling at Bruin Lanes. If you're hoping to live in a small community surrounded by natural beauty, you might enjoy the scenery in the Parker Township.

Written By

Hannah Rainey

Photography Contributed By

Joe Pulcinella

Video By

Dan Mack