Small-town living and urban convenience meet in the borough of McAdoo
McAdoo is a small borough home to fewer than 2,500 people. While it was once a burgeoning industrial town in the heart of Pennsylvania's coal country, it now offers a quiet community with tree-lined streets, neighborhood parks and a quaint downtown along Pennsylvania Route 309. Residents can support local businesses in the borough, or hop on the highway and head to nearby cities like Hazleton, about 5 miles away, and Pottsville, less than 25 miles from McAdoo. The borough is also next to the McAdoo Industrial Park. “There are a lot of job opportunities around here, which brings most of the new people to this area,” says Carlos Mejia, a Realtor with Miracle Real Estate, LLC who has more than a decade of experience in the industry.
From older bungalows to twin homes in a community with few listings
Residential streets feature a mix of single-family homes built around the early 1900s. Properties range from National-style homes with shed-roofed porches to traditional bungalows, Cape Cod and ranch-style houses. The borough also has numerous twin homes. On-street parking is common throughout McAdoo, although several houses have front- or rear-facing garages. Properties rarely come on the market here. As of July 2025, three homes have been sold in the last year, with prices ranging from $75,000 for a twin home needing repairs to $250,000 for an updated single-family home. The median sales price for homes is just under $210,000, and when properties are listed, they sell after an average of about two weeks on the market. “There’s not too much on the market, so people buy the homes that are available,” Mejia says.
A local elementary/middle school in the Hazleton Area School District
Residents live in the Hazleton Area School District. Kids can attend McAdoo Kelayres Elementary/Middle School, which earns a C-minus from Niche, before moving on to Hazleton Area High School, which scores a B-minus. The high school’s program of studies includes several career exploration courses designed to help students consider pursuing a future in fields such as business, health sciences and technology.
Recreation includes parks, community events and a retro roller rink
Veteran’s Memorial Park stands out as the borough’s largest green space. It has a playground, picnic pavilion, and various athletic facilities. The park hosts community events throughout the year, ranging from a summer movie night series to a festive trunk-or-treat celebration following McAdoo’s annual Halloween parade. Adams Street Playground has a basketball court where residents can shoot hoops, while Centennial Park features shaded benches suited for a moment of relaxation. For indoor recreation, The Strand Roller Rink is a retro spot with public skating hours and a game room with old-fashioned arcade games.
Year-round festivities such as the fire department’s annual bazaar
The McAdoo Fire Company hosts various community events throughout the year. Standouts include its annual summer bazaar, which features an outdoor marketplace with food trucks, raffle baskets and live music. In April, folks can buy homemade pierogies, potato cakes and haluski from their Lenten Food Sale.
Residents of McAdoo, Kline Township and Banks Township come together for festivities hosted by the Southside Community Partnership, a local organization representing the three municipalities. The Southside Summer Festival is a popular event in Veteran’s Memorial Park, complete with food trucks, craft vendors and a bounce house for kids to enjoy.
Local businesses and essentials nearby, with more stores in Hazleton
McAdoo has a small downtown area with shops, restaurants and houses of worship. Residents can browse the shelves at Golden Unicorn Comics, shop for handmade country décor at Winks Wood Barn and grab baking essentials from Bresky’s Cake & Candy Supply. The downtown dining scene includes counter-serve spots like China Wok and Bella Luna Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, proudly serving the region’s signature sweet sauce. Isaela’s Rolled Ice Cream Shop is a go-to spot for dessert. Houses of worship include Saint Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, which adds stained-glass windows to downtown’s streetscapes.
Just outside the borough’s downtown, Dollar General, Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Boyer’s Food Markets sell the necessities. Residents typically head to Hazleton, about 5 miles north, to run errands at bigger stores like Lowe’s and Walmart. There are more shops and restaurants in the Laurel Mall, less than 10 miles from McAdoo.
Access to public transit, major highways and local industrial parks
Sidewalks allow residents to walk through most of the borough, where local bus service is available courtesy of Hazleton Public Transit (HPT) and the Schuylkill Transportation System (STS). Locals can catch HPT buses into Hazleton and STS buses into Pottsville, connecting them to nearby shopping centers and supermarkets. Commuters can follow PA 309 about 3 miles southwest to Interstate 81, which runs north-south through Schuylkill County. The borough is about 25 miles from Pottsville and within 50 miles of bigger cities like Scranton and Allentown. Lehigh Valley International Airport is about 45 miles away.
The McAdoo Industrial Park is just outside the borough. It’s home to various manufacturing companies and a greenhouse for Little Leaf Farms. Residents are also less than 10 miles from Humboldt Industrial Park and Valmont Industrial Park, home to some of the area’s top employers. Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton is about a 6-mile drive from McAdoo.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
