Rowland Barker
Historic & Unique Home Specialist

Located at the center of Bucks County, Buckingham Township is the largest of the County's townships with 33 square miles and over 20,000 residents. Buckingham has a long agricultural history dating to about 1700, with rich soil, abundant streams, relatively flat land, and a strong commitment to land preservation. In fact, the Township has preserved nearly 4,300 acres of farmland, woods and streams. But it has, in recent years, become more suburban than rural, with many and varied developments, subdivisions and communities at every price point, as well as diverse commercial areas.

Students in Buckingham Township are served by the Central Bucks School District, which has three high schools, five middle schools and nine elementary schools. The Buckingham Friends School, a Quaker school for Kindergarten through eighth grade is located in the Township. With a large population of families with children, Buckingham has developed a number of parks with playing fields and fitness trails including the George M. Bush, Hansel and Holicong Parks.

Homes in Buckingham Township range from early 18th century farmhouses, to Victorian cottages to mid-20th century ranches and bi-levels to the wide variety of newer construction of the past 25 years. While prices range dramatically, the general spectrum includes newer townhomes in the $350,000s to luxury new custom homes that sell over $1,000,000.
 

Carversville is actually a hamlet within the larger community of Solebury, but its special appeal and rustic charm make it the ideal representation of the traditional Bucks County charm.  Once an active industrial area, Carversville has transformed many of the original properties into beautiful homes surrounded by the Paunacussing Creek.  

The center of the Carversville experience is the town square, with the delightful local inn and old-fashioned general store. Residents meet over coffee as they gather their mail or the New York Times, discuss the events of the day and enjoy the uniqueness of living in such a quaint country environment.  When the weather is warm many choose to make Carversville a bicycle destination, and the bucolic Fleecydale Road is a common path for nature hikers and top-down motorists.

With only 100 official residents, homes in Carversville are special.  People who wish to do so know they are going to pay a premium for the environment.  Few ever complain, however, as the additional expense is reward ten-fold.  House prices rarely fall below $1 Million, but opportunities do exist for less for those who act quickly.

 

Doylestown is one of those special geographic enigmas - a town surrounding a borough of the same name.  The differences extend far beyond the municipal makeup - Doylestown Borough is a well-known cultural destination with museums, restaurants and shops; walking "into town" is an expectation for those who live on the close-cropped streets.  Houses in the Borough range from historic Victorian structures along the early main streets to newer townhouses/condos made from rehabilitated buildings.  Prices range dramatically based on proximity to town center - some single family homes have sold for more than $1.5 Million, while other smaller dwellings can still be had for under $250,000.

By contrast, Doylestown Township is more about seclusion.  While there are suburban neighborhoods and even townshouse/condo complexes within its borders, most residents of Doylestown Township live in single-family homes ranging in the 500,000-700,000 price range.  Doylestown is primarily for full-time residents, with many travelling from the area to pharmaceutical positions along New Jersey's famed "Pharmaceutical Row".

Students in Doylestown all attend Central Bucks School District, but the primary distinction being high school placement.  Central Bucks has three different high schools - West, South and East; and students from Doylestown Borough/Township could be placed into any of them based on their location.

Because it is the County Seat, Doylestown tends to be a hub for commerce and retail. Some of the highest-grossing stores in several box-store chains are located within Doylestown, but the downtown area maintains a distinct local appeal.  

 

New Hope is a tiny town with a huge personality. Perched on the Delaware River, this historic borough has many stories to tell. In the late 19th century and early 20th, New Hope became an art colony, attracting artists who would later become known as the New Hope Impressionists. In 1939, New Hope again redefined itself as a destination for theater lovers when the Bucks County Playhouse opened its doors in the 18th century Parry Grist Mill. In the 1960s and beyond, New Hope further developed its role as a tourist destination with an enlarged commercial area that quickly filled with shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Today, tourists still flock to town to enjoy its eclectic charms including art festivals, summer Friday night fireworks, al-fresco dining, steam train rides and river excursions.

About 2000 people call New Hope Borough home. In addition to the "antique" and "vintage" homes in the older parts of town, New Hope has a number of newer neighborhoods and homes. A large townhouse, condo and apartment complex called Village II was built in the 1960s and features an extensive pool and tennis complex. Prices in V-Two, as it is known locally, range from the high $100,000s for a one bedroom unit to the mid $300,000s. At the southern end of town, one of the old mills was converted to a condominium complex in 1990s. The Waterworks has two and three bedroom units, many with exquisite river views. Prices for units with those river views are in the $550,000 to $650,000 range.

 

One of the easiest Bucks County towns to access from New York, Upper Black Eddy (which includes Bridgeton Township) has been a getaway area for quite some time.  Nestled along the banks of the Delaware River near the Milford bridge, it is only 58 miles from Manhattan. The generally wooded topography and larger homesites make this a more secluded retreat than some points further south.

Homes in Upper Black Eddy run the gammut; there are large farm estates priced in the multi-million dollar category, and there are small "cottages" that can run a few hundred thousand dollars.  Of course pricing is based upon proximity to the river, which is a major draw for most weekenders. 

Those who choose to make Upper Black Eddy their full-time home will reside in the Palisades School District, which is well-known and well-respected.  The district has also recently established an Charter Academy that allows online learning with prior permission.

Unlike other areas in Bucks County, Upper Black Eddy also still has some land and can accommodate new construction if that's your desire.  The prices for building lots also varies dramatically based on location, but can range from $60,000 to $250,000 and beyond.