Bucks County has always been a very popular and highly populated county in Pennsylvania. The demographics of where people are living, though, have changed over the past five years. Places such as Chalfont, Hilltown Township, Lower Makefield Township, Plumstead Township, and Warrington Township have all seen pretty significant population increases, while places such as Middletown Township, Warminster Township, Upper Southampton Township, and New Britain all saw significant decreases in population.

The common theme among the growing towns is strong school districts, newer housing stock, open space and parks, and access to dining and shopping. These are becoming increasingly important to homebuyers. It is also noteworthy that some of the population declines were simply due to aging demographics and older communities that are already built out. Either way, where people are living in Bucks County is changing.

Bucks County Becoming a Top East Coast Getaway

According to Travel + Leisure, Bucks County is also becoming one of the East Coast’s best getaways. There has been a very noticeable increase in tourism from people coming from Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City, and other Mid-Atlantic areas. More and more travelers want weekend destinations without airports or extensive planning, and areas closer to home are becoming more appealing.

Bucks County is perfect for what experts term “experience density.” People can enjoy multiple experiences in a single weekend without spending hours driving between attractions. What travelers are seeking are walkable towns, local businesses, scenic outdoor spaces and recreation areas, historic character, fine food and arts, and a good nightlife.

Walkable Parks and Outdoor Attractions

Bucks County also has plenty of other notable charms, including many walkable parks:

  • Delaware Canal Towpath: A super easy walk, as it is flat and has a canal alongside it, a river nearby, and great history dating back to 1832 that can still be easily seen.
  • Tyler State Park, Newtown: Changing scenery and terrain shifts, wooden trails that lead to open fields, and paved paths that wind along a creek.
  • Peace Valley Park, Doylestown: The draw is a six-mile paved walk around Lake Galena with beautiful scenery. Peace Valley is also a designated Important Bird Area with over 250 species of birds.
  • Core Creek Park in Langhorne and Churchville Nature Center in Churchville are also nice walking parks for people who want shorter loops with trees and lakes.

Museums, Bookstores, and Historic Sites

Bucks County also has a great museum cluster. Doylestown alone has four museums, including the Vampa Museum, which focuses on vampire history and houses the world’s largest collection of antique vampire-killing kits.

Nearby attractions include the Andalusia Historic House, Gardens, and Arboretum, the Grundy Museum, and historic Washington Crossing Park, where George Washington led his army across the Delaware River.

The county also has a great collection of cozy, independent bookstores such as Newtown Bookshop, Bristol Books & Bindery, Yardley’s Commonplace Reader, Farley’s Bookshop in New Hope, and Heisenbooks in Fairless Hills. All are very well-known bookstores, and Heisenbooks is housed in a large warehouse containing stacks upon stacks of books across every genre.

Bucks County’s Housing Market Remains Strong

Due to all of this, Bucks County remains a very hot housing market, with a 9.2% increase in median sale prices, rising from $467,000 to $502,000. There is still a limited supply of inventory in high-demand areas.

Obviously, Bucks County has an affordability issue. The county consists of over 400,000 acres, and only one-third of that land is left to build on, with zoning being a major issue. Much of the remaining land is zoned for single-family homes, with most new construction costing over $500,000. Zoning for denser housing would provide more affordable homes, but that option is unpopular with many existing residents.

The good news in all of this is that Bucks County residents are great budgeters. WalletHub compared over 2,800 counties across the country to determine the strongest budgeting habits, and Bucks County ranked in the 92nd percentile, which is excellent. WalletHub used metrics such as the percentage of households with zero net worth, households without bank accounts, credit card delinquency rates, emergency funds available, savings, debt payments, and the number of delinquencies.

Moving to Bucks County?

Whether you are relocating within Bucks County or making a long-distance move into the area, having an experienced mover can make the process far less stressful. At O’Brien’s Moving & Storage, we provide dependable residential moving services for local, long-distance, and interstate moves throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.

From historic towns to growing suburban communities, Bucks County continues to attract families, retirees, and professionals looking for a high quality of life, and we are proud to help people make that transition smoothly.