Tell Me all About Bucks County Pa ?

[Disneemomee]

Where is the best place to live within Bucks County? School districts, housing prices, but most importantly why you like living there. Thanks so much!

 

[Kathi OD]

I lived in Bucks County for 49 of my 51 years. We only moved out of county to be closer to my parents. Lower Bucks County is, for the most part, pretty well-developed. As you go further north, the county is less developed and more suburban and rural in character.

The best thing about Bucks County is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Everything is pretty convenient. Close enough to Philadelphia, about 2 hours to NYC, 2 Hours to the Jersey shore, 2 hours to the Pocono Mountains.

Generally speaking, but with some exceptions, the homes are most expensive in the central part of the county. Most of the school districts in the county do a pretty good job of educating the children. There are a few that have less than stellar reputations, but I personally know people who have either attended or have had children attend school in those districts and they also received a quality education. A number of school districts have some of the highest teacher salaries in the state; that translates to higher than average school taxes.

If I could live anywhere in the county, I think I'd choose somewhere between Newtown and Doylestown (which is not where I lived). Those areas have good schools and are close enough to everything without being in the middle of it all.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I live in Bensalem. My kids - now adults - went through our school system and were quite satisfied. My daughter is a Speech Pathologist & son is a banker at Bensalem's casino.

Homes here are the mid-priced of Bucks county. The streets are tree-lined, the shopping is good, the ability to get almost anywhere is outstanding.

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me.

 

[GraysMom]

Check out http://www.city-data.com/forum/pennsylvania/. The City-Data Forums don't see tons of traffic like the DIS, but there are quite a few Pennsylvanians on there.

 

[Goingtoseethemouse]

It doesn't get nicer than Bucks county!!!!!!!!!!!I like the towns: Yardley, Newtown and Washington Crossing. They have great locations... are upscale.....schools are great (I MEAN REALLY GREAT!!!!!) I was a teacher in the area. Close knit communities, clean, very very low crime rate, lots of trees, nature, big yards, and lots of things to do!

 

[Goingtoseethemouse]

oops double post

 

[basas]

Check out http://www.city-data.com/forum/pennsylvania/. The City-Data Forums don't see tons of traffic like the DIS, but there are quite a few Pennsylvanians on there.

I love the city-data forums!

Isn't Bucks County where all the people from New Jersey are moving? Anyone see that news story the other day (the one with the huge percentage of NJ people planning on leaving the state?) Apparently they're expecting their first population loss next year in many decades.

 

[Disneemomee]

thank you so much i cant wait this weekend to take a drive and look around

 

[Hannathy]

A lot will depend on where you will be working and how you will get there. Make sure you check out the routes to whatever method you are using. Some communities are great for getting to one of the trains but are terrible if you need to get to an interstate or the turnpike and of course vice versa.

 

[NewJersey]

I graduated from the college of new jersey which is right over the river from Bucks County. I really like that area. I know a lot of people who commuted into NJ for work to save on property taxes/housing prices/etc. Yardley and Washington Crossing are two towns that come to mind. Also New Hope is beautiful and has a great small town feel (and also VERY gay friendly).

 

[kaw1218]

Bucks county is pretty large. It's divided into Upper Bucks, Central Bucks and Lower Bucks.

Avoid Bristol Township. Taxes are too high, and the schools aren't very desirable.


I would look into Yardley, Doylestown, Washington Crossing, Plumstead, Newtown. They are a few that come to mind.

 

[java]

One tip. When looking be wary of areas with new construction. Chances are the rural areas with new construction going up are going to have to redo their school buildings to accomodate the rapid increase in students. Simply stated your taxes would go up BIG TIME!
We looked and I wish I could remember the name of the town we liked and taxes were fantastic!(shoot it was right over the bridge from Lambertville I think)
Good luck and have fun looking. Transportation to work is going to be the big one when looking. (transbridge bus lines is a good into the city bus line)

 

[NewJersey]

Java - was it new hope? New hope and lambertville are connected by the bridge. Lambertville is in NJ/New Hope in PA. Both are great towns! And very gay friendly.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm right across the river from several Bucks County towns. I understand from a few teachers I know that the Council Rock school district is very good. This covers Richboro, Newtown and several other towns. They're right off I-95 so it's an easy drive to many places. The towns are also very quaint. I don't know about taxes though.

 

[java]

Java - was it new hope? New hope and lambertville are connected by the bridge. Lambertville is in NJ/New Hope in PA. Both are great towns! And very gay friendly.

It was just north of New Hope. thumbsup2 and we are very gay friendly too! spend lots of time there with friends)

 

[Kathi OD]

Avoid Bristol Township. Taxes are too high, and the schools aren't very desirable.

The taxes in Bristol Township are high, but the school district is not as bad as some people would have you think. The socio-economic makeup of the township is much more on the lower end of the spectrum than most of the other school districts, which tends to affect its reputation. Not all of the children who live in that part of the county are "pushed" or even "encouraged" when it comes to doing well in school. DD had friends who went all through BT schools and did quite well, going to top-notch colleges & universities (Princeton & Duke come to mind immediately) and without the need for academic prep classes.

On the other hand, we have very good friends who live in Council Rock. Neither of their boys were accepted to college anywhere other than the community college. As parents they felt that they shouldn't have to do anything except put the kids on the bus in the morning. Of course, by the time they were in high school they were not even getting on the bus.

My point is basically this....in many cases, if parents value education and stress the importance of study, homework, and paying attention while in school, and set a good example at home, then children can get a good education even in those districts with bad reputations.

 

[I Love Pluto]

kaw1218 - I take offense to your "put-down" of Bristol Township Schools. I teach there. I am good!

 

[MyGoofy26]

I have absolutely nothing of value to say, but had to share this somewhat creepy thing that just happened. I clicked to go back to page 1 of the CB and while waiting for it to load, I looked up to watch TV. The movie "Signs" (the M. Night Shyamalan one with Mel Gibson about the aliens and crop circles) is just starting. It went to the black screen in the beginning, the one that tells you where the story is taking place. I read, "Bucks County, Pennsylvania" and immediately look back down at my laptop and the first thing my eyes focus on is this thread!

 

[Goingtoseethemouse]

I graduated from the college of new jersey which is right over the river from Bucks County. I really like that area. I know a lot of people who commuted into NJ for work to save on property taxes/housing prices/etc. Yardley and Washington Crossing are two towns that come to mind. Also New Hope is beautiful and has a great small town feel (and also VERY gay friendly).

I went to college right over the bridge too! What college did you go to? I went to Rider. Thats why I know the area. Actually I lived in Yardley for 3 years. I Loved it and regret moving every day. Well, other than the fact that I am now 2 1/2 hours from Disney now! (Yes, I agree...New Hope is very gay friendly!)

 

[NewJersey]

I went to college right over the bridge too! What college did you go to? I went to Rider. Thats why I know the area. Actually I lived in Yardley for 3 years. I Loved it and regret moving every day. Well, other than the fact that I am now 2 1/2 hours from Disney now! (Yes, I agree...New Hope is very gay friendly!)

I went to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) class of 2006. I had a bunch of friends at Rider!