Bridgeton Township draws city workers seeking nature
In Upper Bucks County, Bridgeton Township is a densely wooded community lying along the Delaware River, where many move to escape city life to be closer to nature. “When I first start working with people, I ask, ‘Are you the kind of person who wants to be able to walk to everything and have something in 5 minutes? If so, this isn’t the area for you. If you are into quiet Mother Nature, then this might be the area for you to be,” says Scott Freeman, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Hearthside, who has lived in the township since 2010. According to Freeman, much of his clientele includes people from New York City and Philadelphia seeking a weekend getaway or a permanent residence where they can still reasonably commute to the city. That’s certainly possible thanks to a bridge that crosses the river from Bridgeton Township to Milford, New Jersey.
Wooded lots with acreage and riverfront homes
Residential streets wind through the wooded and hilly landscape. Some homes are tucked away among mature trees, while others are visible from the road, yet still have a backdrop of greenery and ample acreage. “We have a lot of people into self-sustainability to various levels,” Freeman says. “My neighbor has a 22-acre parcel, and they always have a couple cows they raise for food. They have sheep, chickens, turkeys and also do a lot of gardening themselves.”
Colonial Revivals dating back to the 1800s range from $130,000 to $470,000, depending on whether they’ve been renovated or not. Bungalows and ranch-style homes built between the early and mid-1900s sell for around $280,000 to $520,000. Upscale houses with several acres cost anywhere from $730,000 to more than $1 million. Waterfront properties face the Delaware River from the other side of River Road. Only two have sold in recent years. One was a 1800s Victorian with no renovations, which sold for $270,000, and one bungalow from the early 1900s with modern updates that sold for just over $690,000.
The township receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
From ringing rocks to running rivers, nature is everywhere
The township is home to Ringing Rocks County Park. It’s named for its unique geological feature of boulders, which visitors climb and strike with a hammer to hear a ringing sound. The park also has a 15-foot waterfall, the largest in Bucks County. Nearby, Delaware Canal State Park offers access to the D&L Trail, which runs along the canal and spans 165 miles. Locals have access to a boat ramp on the Delaware River, which, according to Freeman, is a popular spot for tubing. The 1,450-acre Lake Nockamixon at Nockamixon State Park is also about 10 to 15 minutes away. “If you drive around here, you are going to see a lot of boats in people’s driveways,” Freeman says. The region also has several places to hunt, including State Game Lands 56 in Bridgeton Township, where hunters pursue deer, turkey and waterfowl.
New York and Philadelphia reachable by car
Though Allentown is the closest major city, about 25 miles away in the Lehigh Valley, locals don’t typically associate with it. “You would think there’s an invisible fence between here and the Lehigh Valley,” Freeman says. “There are a few people who commute there, but generally speaking, they are working in New Jersey or New York. Some also go south to Doylestown and even Philadelphia.” It takes about 45 minutes to drive to Allentown, home to Lehigh Valley International Airport. Philadelphia and New York City are 60 and 70 miles away, respectively, and it takes about 90 minutes to drive to either city.
Palisades School District earns solid grades and offers career paths
All three schools in the Palisades School District are about 10 to 15 minutes away in Nockamixon Township. Public school students attend Durham Nockamixon Elementary School, which receives an A grade from Niche. They’ll go on to Palisades Middle School and Palisades High School, both of which receive B-plus grades. The high school offers seven career pathway programs. They include focuses in art and design, business, education, engineering, global studies, medical and vocational-technical careers.
Restaurants and groceries nearby, big-box stores 30 minutes away
The township offers a few dining options, including The Narrows, described as a “New American” restaurant serving a fusion of international flavors. The restaurant is set in a historic building by the Delaware River with indoor and outdoor seating. The Gulch Tavern offers a more rustic vibe, where locals go to eat, drink and hang out over trivia, karaoke and Eagles games. Homestead Coffee Roaster sits on the Delaware Canal, featuring a garden-style patio. It serves coffee, breakfast and lunch, and also has a general store. For groceries, Kimberton Whole Foods is less than 10 miles away. Locals can also cross the bridge to Milford, New Jersey’s historic downtown, where Bridge Street is lined with locally owned shops and restaurants. To shop at big-box retailers, Freeman says locals typically drive about 30 minutes to Quakertown.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
