Harleysville’s transformation from farmland to suburb
In rural Pennsylvania, situated almost equidistant between Allentown and Philadelphia, about 9,000 residents put down roots in Harleysville. This Montgomery County town was founded in the 1700s by Dutch settlers, and the town embraces its Colonial history through establishments and park spaces like Klein Meetinghouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pennsylvania Turnpike passes through the east side of town, allowing for easier commuting options to the surrounding big cities. “It’s convenient to get to other places but still have that rural lifestyle,” says Jane Maslowski, Associate Broker with Keller Williams Real Estate. Considered a suburb of Philadelphia, Harleysville has seen an evolution from farmlands to housing developments. “Corn fields are going away and more homes are coming in,” says Associate Broker Terry Derstine with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “But we still have that flavor of a small-town community.”
Residents love shopping produce along the road at the many farmstands in Lower Salford.
Charming farms and barns are scattered throughout Lower Salford.
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Colonial-style homes and new planned developments
Residences throughout Harleysville are a mix of planned developments and subdivisions, interspersed with open properties along winding roads. Colonial-inspired and farmhouse styles with acreage are common. “There are still some older farm-type houses left,” Maslowski says. “But many farms have been sold off and newer housing developments have replaced those areas.” The median price for a single-family home in Harleysville is $510,000, compared to $315,000 in Pennsylvania and $406,000 in the country. Properties tend to sell quickly here, typically staying on the market for an average of only two weeks before they are sold.
Close to downtown Harleysville in Lower Salford there are older homes including brick twins.
Aerial view of a newer development in Lower Salford Township showing spacious back yards.
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Country Fair Days at Harleysville Community Center
There are several green spaces dispersed around the center of Harleysville, each offering open fields, walking trails, a playground and often a fishing pond or creek. Centrally located, Harleysville Community Center has baseball diamonds and an outdoor pool. The site of the community center hosts the annual Country Fair Days in May, complete with carnival rides, live music, food and fireworks. “People get involved here,” Derstine says. “With the community center and youth sports teams, there are plenty of ways to get plugged in and become part of the fabric of the community.”
On the south side of town, Heckler Plains Farmstead highlights the area’s history, featuring a Colonial-era mill and home. A historical society manages the space today, which includes a vegetable garden, athletic fields, a playground and walking paths. Each August, the farmstead hosts Hecklerfest, an event that embraces the area’s Colonial heritage. Also south of Harleysville are the public Lederach Golf Club and Mainland Golf Course. West of town, Spring Mountain Adventures is open year-round for skiing, zip-lining and Halloween haunts.
In the Summer you will find the residents of Lower Salford at the Community Center pool.
Welcome to Heckler Plains Farmstead in Lower Salford Township.
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Local bars and eateries along Main Street
As with many small rural communities, shopping and dining are limited in Harleysville. “People are definitely driving to other towns, as there is not a lot of industry in Harleysville,” Maslowski says. However, Main Street features a handful of local eateries, including Harleysville Hotel and The Butcher and Barkeep. In the same area as the latter, there’s a Walmart and Giant grocery store. Another option for groceries is Henning’s Market, a sixth-generation family-owned supermarket on the south side of town.
The Lederach Corner Store and Piano Bar is a great place for a drink in Lower Salford.
Henning's Market in Lower Salford has been serving the community since 1889.
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Souderton, North Penn and Methacton school districts
Students in Harleysville are likely to attend schools in the Souderton Area School District, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche. The district consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools and an area high school. “Harleysville actually encompasses three different school districts, North Penn, Souderton and Methacton,” Maslowski says. “Depending on where you live in Harleysville, you’re part of one of those school districts.” Both North Penn and Methacton school districts receive an A rating.
Oak Ridge Elementary School serves students with great staff and environment.
Indian Valley Middle School serves grades 6-8 with an A- rating on Niche.com.
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Commuting to Philadelphia via the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Harleysville is car-dependent, as there are no bus or passenger train services in town. When traveling to destinations outside of town, residents can take the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Allentown, 40 miles north, and Philadelphia, 30 miles south. For even further destinations, Philadelphia International Airport is about 40 miles away. Jefferson Lansdale Hospital is the nearest general hospital, located 10 miles east.
Harleysville’s weather patterns and low crime rate
Harleysville experiences all four seasons, with summers that see an average temperature of about 75 degrees and winters that see an average temperature of around 50 degrees. February typically has the most snow, with an average snowfall of 7.5 inches.
Just outside of Harleysville, the Baghurst Drive Superfund Site has groundwater that is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, which affects a small area of homes on the town’s south side. Since the discovery of this contamination, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has implemented a carbon filtration system for affected residences, as well as providing this area with bottled water. As of 2022, a new waterline has been extended from a nearby township to provide affected residents with clean water.
Crime data is not readily available for Harleysville, but there is data for Lower Salford Township, which encompasses Harleysville. According to information provided to the FBI, the crime rate in Lower Salford Township is significantly and consistently lower than both the state and national crime rates.
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