$285,267Average Value$193Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
'Sweet, homespun feel'
Land on Mars, a township with an extraterrestrial theme, 25 miles from Pittsburgh. “It’s like a Hallmark movie. A small town with a charming, sweet homespun feel,” says Diane Bureman, Realtor at Howard Hanna. While the small town of Mars is easily categorized as a typical suburb with brick buildings and manicured lawns, the area has a quirky side. The Mars Flying Saucer Statue sits on a grassy area along the main thoroughfare and a bright purple dinosaur mingles with a blue racecar at the play structure in Garfield Park. Children pour over a book in a vibrant mural outside the Mars Area Public Library. These features showcase Mars' fun, artistic side, which can also be seen in the township events and local attractions. Despite the Martian references, the origins of the town’s name are unclear. Some believe Mars is a shortened version of the name Marshall, after one of the founders, Samuel Marshall, while others think it was named for his wife, who liked astronomy. The CAP Index crime score is a 2 out of 10. The national average is 4.
Mars New Year Festival
“We have a Mars New Year every two years,” says John Watson, president of the Mars Area History and Landmarks Society. “Because that’s how long it takes Mars to make it around the sun. It’s like a science fair. NASA comes down and sets up booths. We’ve done that about five or six times. It’s a big event.” The next Mars New Year Festival is scheduled for June 2025. Mars Brew Fest is an annual June event, where residents enjoy beer from a local brewery while listening to live music. On the first Saturday of October, the Mars Applefest features over 90 vendors and free admission. In the wider Butler County area, Jeep owners trek to Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, in May for the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, where visitors participate in a virtual scavenger hunt, a trail ride and other car-related activities. Closer to home, the Mars Area Public Library has a popular summer reading program and offers times to read with a golden retriever named Wally.
Shopping and dining in Mars
The Mars Farmhouse Café serves American comfort food with locally sourced ingredients. Patrons can bring their alcoholic beverages for a $5 corkage fee. Mars Brew House offers frozen coffees and cinnamon rolls in a converted house. Jimmy’s Strip District Grille serves homestyle breakfast. The railroad-themed Breakneck Tavern is known for its lamb and risotto, farm-to-table style and patio. Groceries are available at local convenience stores. For more variety, residents may stop at the Giant Eagle Supermarket in nearby Seven Fields or head to Cranberry Mall for Walmart or Costco.
Mars-Bethel Golf
Mars-Bethel Golf, the main attraction within Mars, has a mini-golf course with brightly painted sculptures of exotic animals and a newly opened Mars-themed attraction. The Mars Indoor Sports League offers playground games such as dodgeball, CornHole and knockerball, where players are covered with a giant inflatable bubble. At the Mars Community Ballfield and Playground, kids can play Little League games or climb on the jungle gym. The covered pavilion provides shade for a picnic. Garfield Park is more extensive and offers a wider playground area, swing set and basketball court for pickup games.
Light Night event at Mars Area Elementary
Mars students attend the Mars Area School District, which earns a B-plus from Niche and is listed as one of the best school districts in Butler County. Children attend Mars Area Elementary School, which earns an A-minus, and Mars Area Middle School, which receives a B-plus. Students advance to Mars Area High School, which earns a B-plus. Mars Area Elementary School presents a Light Night event showcasing student work in the arts and sciences along with interactive activities and games with a glow-in-the-dark theme.
Single-family homes from $175,000
Homes sit along gridded streets on medium lots with rolling lawns and wide driveways. There are no sidewalks in the residential areas of Mars, and most homes are Foursquares or bungalows. Condos in the region are in the Colonial Revival style. Single-family homes range from $175,000 to $340,000, while condos range from $110,000 to $150,000.
Commuting on Route 228
Route 228 borders the neighborhood, leading to Route 8 and Interstates 79 and 76. While most homes are within walking distance of the town center, Mars is a car-dependent area. The Pittsburgh International Airport is 35 miles away. For residents looking to attend religious services, the Chinmaya Amarnath, Mars United Presbyterian Church, and Advance Community Church are in the area.
Important to know
Breakneck Creek cuts through Mars Township and into nearby Valencia. “Breakneck sometimes floods, not too badly in Mars, but it can get bad in other towns,” says Watson.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Betsy Wotherspoon,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Adams Township Parks & Recreation
Baseball/Softball
Playground
Parking Lot
Seven Fields Municipal Park
Baseball/Softball
Soccer
Playground
North Boundary Park
Cranberry Township Community Waterpark
Mars Athletic Field
Baseball/Softball
Football
Parking Lot
Garfield Avenue Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Playground
Transit
Airport
Pittsburgh International
46 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Mars
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Mars, PA sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Mars, PA over the last 12 months is $332,822, up 61% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
The recent updates are sure to please! Recent updates include SpillDefense plank laminate, appliances including an oversize refrigerator and gas stove, extended quartzite counter top w breakfast bar. 2 pantry closets. Dining rm is generously sized and open to the living rm w fireplace and updated French door with built-in blinds between the glass. New 20x12 composite deck is ready for outdoor
Well-designed custom home with features ahead of its time! 2-sided stone fireplace with wood storage between spacious living and dining areas. Sliding glass doors from dining room area to covered patio. Kitchen breakfast bar w/access to family room. Refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave stay with the property. Three roomy bedrooms, private office or 4th bedroom. Built-in wall radio and
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Betsy Wotherspoon,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,086
Median Age
54
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
16.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
35.5%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$51,364
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$62,220
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.1%
College Graduates
20.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.2%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
12''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
31/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
64/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
