North Union Township

Evergreens, oak trees and rolling hills stretch across Pennsylvania's North Union Township, greeting residents every morning with scenic landscape views.

"North Union has more elbow room," says Ron Lovelace, a local realtor with RE/MAX Professionals who lived in the township before moving to the city next door, Uniontown. "The houses are farther apart, so there's some space between you and your neighbors." The average lot size in North Union is 16,117 square feet, about 3,000 square feet more than South Union Township's and 11,000 more than Uniontown's. So, homeowners here have plenty of space on their own property to enjoy the great outdoors — one of the main appeals of country living. That said, there are no public parks in North Union, but Ohiopyle State Park is just over 15 miles away, and the annual Fayette County Fair takes place just outside the township's borders.

"When I lived in Virginia Beach, you'd go to the DMV or the post office and have to wait in a long line or wait to have your number called," says Lovelace. "Out here? You walk in, and there's one person ahead of you. Everything is convenient if you don't mind driving. And even driving's better out here. You'll hit stoplights, sure, but really there's no traffic." Folks move to rural areas for a slower pace of life, which is definitely what you'll get in North Union Township, but less congestion speeds up parts of the day you rarely think about, and driving through scenic country backroads isn't exactly a drawback to many. While there is a Save A Lot in the township, most errands and day-to-day shopping lead folks to Uniontown, which is the county seat of Fayette County. Local restaurants and convenient retailers line the city's main street, but if you're just looking to grab a bite to eat, North Union has some options. Smitty's Bar and Restaurant is a popular choice with stiff drinks and a hearty menu of American fare. Five minutes down the road is another local staple, O'Gillies Pub and Restaurant, which also features a classic American menu with some Italian entrees sprinkled in.

Compared to Uniontown and South Union Township, properties are more affordable in North Union. Prices range between $52,000 and $337,000. A little less than the average listing price, $172,922, could land you a four-bathroom, two-bedroom residence. Properties built as early as 1860 can be found in this township, but for the most part, houses here date back to the early 1900s, though there are some newer exceptions since there's plenty of land to build new properties. With no HOAs and plenty of custom-built homes, there's quite an architectural variety. There are ranch-style houses, bungalows, Colonial Revivals, historic cottages, farmhouses, Minimal Traditional split-level homes and more.

The Laurel Highlands School District serves North Union Township, so resident students can begin their studies not too far from home at Marshall Elementary, rated with a B-minus on Niche. After finishing fifth grade, students can attend Laurel Highlands Middle, rated with a C-plus on Niche, before graduating from Laurel Highlands High, which is rated with a B-minus on Niche and home to a couple career- and interest-based academies. Founded in 2004 via a partnership with the National Academy Foundation, this high school's finance academy creates small, structured learning communities that follow a work-based learning curriculum to give students the edge they need to succeed in higher education and the industry. From guest speakers and career exploration activities to mock interviews and a culminating internship, students in this program graduate prepared to take on the next chapter of business and finance.

Immediate access to Route 119 makes for easy 10- to 15-mile commutes north to Connellsville and breezy rides farther north to Pittsburgh, 60 miles away. So, whether you work in the big city or a neighboring county, you can make life simple in North Union Township.

Written By

Micaela Willoughby

Photography Contributed By

Jesse Roehrer

Video By

Mark Barakat