The #1 school district in the Lehigh Valley, newer homes built in the 2000s and later, and highway access in every direction. Here's the real story, warehouses and all.
Upper Macungie Township, which includes Breinigsville and much of Trexlertown, is one of the most sought after places to buy in the Lehigh Valley. The main draw is the Parkland School District, rated A+ by Niche and ranked #1 in the Lehigh Valley.
Homes here are mostly newer, built in the 2000s and later, with typical prices in the mid $400,000s to low $500,000s. The tradeoff is a large warehouse and logistics corridor that brings jobs and truck traffic. Commuters get quick access to I 78, Route 222, Route 100 and the Turnpike.
Upper Macungie sits right next door to Macungie borough, and buyers often shop the two together. Our Macungie community guide covers the borough side, and our full list of Lehigh Valley communities can help you compare the rest of the area.
#1
Parkland, ranked in the Lehigh Valley
26,000
Residents in the township
2008
Typical home year built in 18031
Sources: Niche, U.S. Census estimates, Breinigsville 18031 ZIP data.
The names can be confusing, so let's clear that up first. Upper Macungie is the township, home to roughly 26,000 people in western Lehigh County. Breinigsville and Trexlertown are villages inside it, and both are also mailing addresses.
Breinigsville covers the western and northern parts of the township, where most of the newer subdivisions are. Trexlertown sits near the intersection of Routes 100 and 222 and actually straddles the line with Lower Macungie Township. That detail matters more than you might think, as you'll see in the school section.
The whole area is about 15 to 20 minutes west of downtown Allentown and about 30 minutes from Reading.
The township itself, western Lehigh County, roughly 26,000 residents.
Western and northern parts of the township, home to most of the newer subdivisions.
Near Routes 100 and 222 — and it straddles the line with Lower Macungie Township.
Ask buyers why they're shopping in Upper Macungie and most will say the same two words: Parkland schools. Niche gives the Parkland School District an A+ overall and ranks it #1 in the Lehigh Valley and #18 in Pennsylvania. It serves close to 10,000 students across 12 schools.
A+
Niche overall grade
#1
In the Lehigh Valley
#18
In Pennsylvania
~10K
Students, 12 schools
Parkland High School is big, with more than 3,000 students, which means a huge range of courses, sports and activities. Some families love that. Others find it a little large. The district has construction underway to expand the high school, so it's worth asking about the timeline if you have kids heading there soon.
The detail that trips up Trexlertown buyers
Upper Macungie Township is in Parkland, but neighboring Lower Macungie is served by the East Penn School District, which Niche rates A minus. Because parts of Trexlertown sit in Lower Macungie, two homes with a Trexlertown address can attend different schools. Always confirm the district by the property itself, not the mailing address.
Upper Macungie isn't the cheapest corner of the Lehigh Valley, and the schools are a big reason why. Recent data puts the median sale price in the Breinigsville 18031 ZIP code in the mid $400,000s to low $500,000s, compared with the regional median of $379,000 that Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS reported for August.
What you get for that is mostly newer housing. The typical home in the 18031 ZIP was built around 2008, and you'll find a lot of two story colonials, townhomes and twins in planned neighborhoods with sidewalks and community parks. Older farmhouses and ranch homes show up too, especially toward the township's rural edges.
Townhomes
Communities like Trexler Pointe offer a lower price point for entry into Parkland.
Mid $400s–Low $500s
The typical range for the 18031 ZIP — two story colonials, twins and single families.
$900K+
Larger luxury plans at Estates at Fallbrooke Farms and similar communities.
New construction is still going. Hamilton Walk, a 55+ community in Breinigsville, rounds out the mix for downsizers.
No honest guide to Upper Macungie skips this part. The township sits right on one of the biggest logistics corridors on the East Coast. Large distribution centers line Routes 100 and 222 and the roads near I 78, including major operations for companies like Amazon and Ocean Spray.
Plenty of jobs close to home, and a commercial tax base that helps the township keep services funded.
Truck traffic, especially on Route 100 during shift changes, and some residents feel the area has grown faster than its roads.
Before you buy, do this
If you're looking at a specific home, drive past it on a weekday morning and again in the late afternoon. Check what's zoned for the open land nearby too. A quiet field today could be approved for a distribution center tomorrow, and your agent can help you look that up.
Trexlertown is famous in cycling circles for the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, an outdoor velodrome that hosts races and community programs through the warmer months. Watching a Friday night race is a summer tradition for a lot of local families.
Township parks, youth sports leagues and walking trails throughout the area.
Plenty of options along Hamilton Boulevard and Route 100, plus the Lehigh Valley Mall nearby.
The region's big amusement park, plus downtown Allentown's restaurants and arena — all a short drive away.
When you want small town charm, Macungie borough's Main Street and Macungie Memorial Park are right next door.
These two get mixed up all the time, but they offer pretty different lifestyles.
Larger and more suburban in feel
Newer homes and bigger subdivisions
Parkland School District
More land and larger yards
Small, walkable town
Older homes with classic character
East Penn School District
A real Main Street downtown
If you want character and walkability, the borough may suit you better. If you want newer construction, a bigger yard and Parkland, Upper Macungie is the stronger fit. Our Macungie buyer's guide goes deeper on the borough so you can compare side by side.
Location is the other big selling point. From most of the township you can reach:
15–20 min
Downtown Allentown
30 min
Reading via Route 222
~1 hour
Philadelphia via Turnpike NE Extension
~2 hours
New York City via I 78
That mix makes Upper Macungie popular with dual income households where one person works in the Lehigh Valley and the other commutes toward Berks County or Philadelphia.
Homes in Parkland country don't last long, so it pays to have a team that knows which streets fall in which district and what's planned for the land around them. The Chris Troxell Team helps buyers across western Lehigh County find the right fit and move fast when it counts.
Ready to tour? Contact the Chris Troxell Team to get started.