Central Bucks Area Guide

The Territory: Central Bucks townships include Bedminster, Buckingham, Doylestown, Lower and Upper Southampton, Newtown, Northampton Plumstead, Solebury, Upper Makefield, Warwick and Wrightstown townships. Doylestown is the county seat and therefore has quite a lot of commercial activity along with blocks and blocks of lovely historic homes and sedate neighborhoods. Other towns include Lahaska, home of the notable shopping spot, Peddler’s Village; the historic villages of Carversville and Lumberville, each with beautifully restored residences, well-stocked general stores and the Carversville Inn and Black Bass Inn restaurants, respectively; Point Pleasant, a river village that is home to the noted Kinsman & Co. garden tool shop, Poor Richard’s, purveyor of garden pots and statuary and Bucks County River Country, where you can rent a canoe  or tire tube to float down the Delaware River, a perfect warm-weather activity.

In Central Bucks, New Hope Borough, one of the most scenic small towns in the United States, is the place that really steals visitors’ hearts. Squarely overlooking the Delaware River with winding narrow streets and a Main Street lined with restaurants, shops, art galleries and historic homes, New Hope has a long history of welcoming all comers – artists, hipsters, families, bikers and people of just about any political bent.

The Lifestyle: Maybe it’s the area’s Quaker heritage, big-city influence or just chance, but the residents of Central Bucks County (and much of the rest of the county, for that matter) are known for their tolerance and appreciation of independent thinkers and the offbeat – if you like to march to the beat of your own drummer, pay us a visit! On the other hand, there are many people who call the area home because it’s considered a wonderful area to raise a family with the schools, churches, sports, parks and other features important to many parents.

Besides New Hope, some of the favorite smaller towns that people seek out in Central Bucks are Doylestown and Newtown, both with vibrant commercial districts and attractive streetscapes lined with beautifully renovated historical homes. Many people enjoy the proximity we have to New York City (about 90 minutes) and Philadelphia (about 50 minutes), and we are convenient to major employers in the greater Princeton area.

Central Bucks Real Estate: The Central Bucks area is unique in that it really isn’t rural, nor is it urban, but “suburban” doesn’t really seem to fit as a label, either – it’s an in-between spot where historic stone houses are plentiful, equestrian and hobby farms are popular and there is also an ample supply of newer homes and cul de sac communities. Home prices can be a bit higher than in Upper and Lower Bucks, but the number of well maintained properties and absolutely beautiful homes in this market are quite impressive. Solebury, Buckingham and Upper Makefield Townships have seen a lot of true luxury estate homes built during the past 15 years.

Education: Public school districts include Central Bucks, New Hope-Solebury and Council Rock. A number of private education institutions are available, including Solebury School, Buckingham Friends (a Quaker school), George School, Newtown Friends, Plumstead Christian Academy, and others. Research schools here.

 Commuting Potential: Many people commute from Central Bucks to various points in New Jersey and even to New York City. Off peak, the drive can be about 1 hour and 30 minutes, sometimes less. At rush hour, count on two hours to the Holland Tunnel in Lower Manhattan. Daily bus service to New Jersey/New York is available from Doylestown, Lahaska, New Hope and Lambertville, N.J., just across the Delaware River from New Hope. The ride averages just over 90 minutes. Many people take the train (New Jersey Transit or Amtrak) from Trenton, N.J., which also offers Amtrak’s high-speed Acela train to Manhattan and Boston and Washington, D.C., to the south. Some people also drive to various points in New Jersey where ferry service to Manhattan is available.

For additional information about Central Bucks County, or to learn more about housing options in the area, please phone Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty’s New Hope Office at 215.794.3227, or email us.