Peters Township is woven into my family's life. So many of our friends and clients live here, and my kids have lots of friends in Peters they play club soccer with. Years ago we were members of Rolling Hills Country Club, the land that's now home to the new Peters Township High School, and today many of our friends belong to Valley Brook Country Club. I've helped many families here buy existing homes and build new ones.
This is the guide I'd hand a friend who's thinking about moving to Peters Township. It covers the homes, the neighborhoods, the schools, the parks and trails, and the honest details I'd want to know before buying here.
County | Washington |
Location | South Hills of Pittsburgh, bordering Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park |
Population | 22,946 (2020 Census) |
Land area | 19.52 square miles |
Founded | 1781, one of Washington County's 13 original townships |
Communities | McMurray, Venetia, and Thompsonville |
Public schools | Peters Township School District: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high school |
Main roads | Route 19 and East McMurray Road |
ZIP codes | 15317 (McMurray) and 15367 (Venetia) |
Peters Township is newer and more spread out than its South Hills neighbors. Much of it was developed in the 1990s and early 2000s, you can still find new construction, and the lots are much larger. It has a strong suburban feel, and there are still working farms. Because it's across the line in Washington County, it feels newer than Upper St. Clair and a world apart from Mt. Lebanon. Taxes are typically lower here, too. I've run the comparisons myself, and I'm happy to walk buyers through them for any home they're considering.
Locals usually say they live in McMurray or Venetia rather than "Peters Township," so you'll hear all three names.
Peters stayed a rural farming community for a long time. In 1950 it had about 3,000 residents; by 2000 it had more than 17,500. There's a fun South Hills connection, too: the golf club that became Rolling Hills was started after World War II by golfers from Mt. Lebanon, and it was originally called Mt. Lebanon Golf Club.
Whether you want a quaint ranch, a classic four-bedroom Colonial, or new construction, there's something for everyone in Peters. You get more home here than in most other South Hills communities: think walk-in closets, big yards, and three-car garages. Those are things you sometimes find in Upper St. Clair and almost never find in Mt. Lebanon.
As on my other neighborhood pages, you won't find a single median price here, because one number can't describe homes this varied. Tell me what you're picturing, and I'll pull recent sales for homes just like it.
Peters has dozens of plans. A few you'll hear about, especially for newer and custom homes:
Most of Peters Township's shopping and services run along Route 19 and East McMurray Road. McMurray is the township's civic center, home to the municipal building and the Peters Township Public Library.
One of the things I love telling people about Peters is that there are still working farms. Simmons Farm and Trax Farms are the best spots for fall festivals, apple picking, and hayrides, and my kids love them. Venetia is also home to Empress Farms, a horse farm on Sugar Camp Road that's well known in the Arabian horse world. They host wonderful events for children, and my daughter's Girl Scout troop loves going there to learn about the horses and help care for them. It's the kind of experience you just don't expect this close to Pittsburgh.
Here's my idea of a perfect Peters day: start your morning with a walk on the Montour Trail, spend the afternoon wine tasting at Justabout Winery and hopefully catch some live music, then head to dinner at Arlecchino or Franco's. My favorites in and around Peters:
Coming soon: Common Ground, from the team behind Coughlin's Law, is opening on East McMurray Road, and everyone is excited about it.
For outdoor space, Peters Township has a lot going for it:
Peters Township School District serves only Peters Township and is consistently one of the top-ranked districts in Pennsylvania. U.S. News & World Report ranked Peters Township High School No. 1 in the Pittsburgh region in its 2026 rankings. The current high school opened in 2021 on the former Rolling Hills Country Club land, and the old high school became the middle school.
The district is set up in four stages:
At the elementary level, U.S. News ranked Pleasant Valley the No. 1 elementary school in Pennsylvania in 2025, with Bower Hill seventh. The district runs school buses. Because the K–3 school depends on which side of the township you live on, we'll check the district's records for any address before you make an offer.
If you work at Southpointe, Peters is hard to beat: it's about 10 minutes away. Downtown is farther, about 45 minutes. Getting to the airport is much easier now that the Southern Beltway connects I-79 to Pittsburgh International.
Moving from out of town? My Relocating to Pittsburgh guide covers the bigger picture.
I've helped many Peters families buy existing homes and build new ones, and I know the township's details. Recently, I helped a family through a tough situation: a pool built years ago, before the current code, sat next to and partly over an easement. We worked closely with the township to solve the problem and make sure the family was protected. In a township with this much newer development, details like easements, lot lines, and permits really matter, and they're things I always check.
Start with my Buyer's Guide or search homes for sale.
If you're thinking about selling, my Seller's Guide walks through the process, or you can request a home valuation.
Upper St. Clair is the comparison I'm asked about most for Peters. Peters is newer and larger, with bigger lots, more new construction, working farms, and Washington County taxes. Upper St. Clair is closer to the city and more established, with its homes mostly built from the 1970s on. Mt. Lebanon is a different world: older, compact, and walkable. Bethel Park and South Fayette each offer their own mix of space, price, and commute.
I'm Lauren Coulter, a Howard Hanna agent. I've lived in Mt. Lebanon since 2010, and Peters Township is a big part of my family's life and my business. Whether you're weighing a move to McMurray or Venetia or wondering what your home would sell for, I'd be glad to talk it through.
Call or text 724-816-3210, or send me a message.
McMurray is one of the communities within Peters Township, along with Venetia and Thompsonville. Many residents say they live in McMurray or Venetia, but it's all one township with one school district.
Washington County. It borders Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park, which are in Allegheny County.
Typically, yes. Peters is in Washington County, and taxes there tend to be lower than in Allegheny County communities like Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon. I've run these comparisons for many buyers and am happy to do the same for any home you're considering.
Peters Township School District has two K–3 elementary schools (Bower Hill for the Venetia side and Pleasant Valley for the McMurray side), McMurray Elementary for grades 4–5, Peters Township Middle School for grades 6–8, and Peters Township High School for grades 9–12.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Peters Township High School No. 1 in the Pittsburgh region in its 2026 rankings. In its 2025 elementary rankings, Pleasant Valley was No. 1 in Pennsylvania and Bower Hill was seventh.
Yes, the district runs school buses.
Southpointe is about 10 minutes away, and Downtown Pittsburgh is about 45 minutes. The Southern Beltway, which connects I-79 to Pittsburgh International Airport, has made airport trips much easier.
Yes. Much of the township was developed in the 1990s and early 2000s, and new communities are still being built, often with larger lots.
Peters Township's section of the Montour Trail, built on the old Montour Railroad line. It was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2003.
Request a home valuation, or call or text me at 724-816-3210.
4,468 people live in Peters Township, where the median age is 46 and the average individual income is $67,937. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Peters Township, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including VFW Post 764, Scones & Cones, and All Dolled Up.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining · $$ | 0.24 miles | 10 reviews | 4.4/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.31 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.31 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.13 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.31 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.7 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.29 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.3 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.33 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.4 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
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Peters Township has 1,641 households, with an average household size of 3. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Peters Township do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 4,468 people call Peters Township home. The population density is 2,046 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
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10-17 Years
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Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
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Blue vs White Collar Workers
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