Quiet and historic South Jersey city on the Delaware River
The city of Burlington – not to be confused with Burlington Township, which wraps around the city limits – is a quiet, historic community that was founded by William Penn’s Quakers based on inclusive principles in 1677. Three centuries later, Burlington is still a diverse and accommodating city in Burlington County. The county extends from the Delaware River to the Jersey Shore, but the City of Burlington refers to the smaller portion nestled on the banks of the river. The area is considered an exurb of Philadelphia, which is 20 miles away. About 75 miles away, New York City is also accessible by interstate or passenger train. “A lot of people have moved out of the city because they don’t have to be in the office every day anymore,” says Giulio Leone, a Realtor with HomeSmart. “They’re leaving New York City and Philadelphia and moving to Burlington and the surrounding areas.”
The population of Burlington has hovered around 10,000 residents for the past three decades. While there hasn’t been a great amount of growth, there also hasn’t been an exodus. In addition to commuters, Burlington attracts history enthusiasts and buyers seeking an affordable home. “The Burlington area is a Revolutionary War area where the community started,” says Leone. “We won our independence here when George Washington crossed the Delaware.” Nods to the past can be seen in preserved 18th- and 19th-century establishments and green spaces in the High Street Historic District and the Historic Yorkshire neighborhood, including shops, museums and the Burlington Riverfront Promenade.
Historic Yorkshire is a mostly residential area of Burlington, NJ.
Visit the home of Ulysses S. Grant just outside of Historic Yorkshire.
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Established eateries, retail and street fairs along High Street
Much of the city’s shops and eateries line Burlington Pike, or U.S. Route 130, which acts as the main artery in and out of the area. The pike intersects with High Street, where long-standing diners and other retailers are located. City Steaks and Iffys Hot Chicken & Wings are popular takeout spots, and Amy’s Omelette House serves breakfast from a refurbished train car. Continuing north along High Street, past City Hall and the post office, are more historic establishments. Antique shops sit next to Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts, which features art galleries and musical performances. Also in this area are the popular Francesco's Pizzeria and B Unos, which serves burgers and street tacos.
At the northernmost point of High Street, this main drag meets the Riverfront Promenade. Near there, Burlington Pharmacy is the oldest continuous pharmacy in the state and a former stop on the Underground Railroad. Evermore Coffee Roasters is a modern Edgar Allan Poe-themed cafe, and The Union House is a tavern with an old-school clock tower. The Wood Street Fair takes place in this historic riverfront district each September, attracting more than 25,000 people to the city.
Amy's Omlette House is a great place to grab breakfast in East Farnerville.
Evermore Coffee Roasters is a short walk from New London for a nice cup of coffee.
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Summers spent at the Riverfront Promenade, Sylvan Lake and Curtin's Wharf
Where High Street meets the Delaware River, a statue of a white anchor welcomes parkgoers to Pearl Pointe, the beginning of the Burlington Riverfront Promenade. This park stretches for a mile along the river, where visitors can launch their boat, use the athletic spaces and playgrounds, and listen to live music at the bandstand.
Just south of the city, Sylvan Lake is popular in the summer. Burlington residents can pay a $50 seasonal fee to enjoy the sandy beach and swimming area. “Every year, we hold a fishing derby at Sylvan Lake,” says Dianne Flannery, the Parks Director of Burlington Township. “The city of Burlington has one at Kennedy Lake, but Sylvan Lake is more accessible for the kids.” The smaller Kennedy Lake is located in Kennedy Park, which also features an off-leash dog park, a playground and walking trails with footbridges.
Residents with boats can access Curtin Marina, which includes Curtin’s Wharf, a bar and grill open during the summer months. “People like to take their boats out on the weekends. There are restaurants on the water where boaters can stop, get drinks and eat,” Leone says. “They can go all the way to Penn’s Landing,” referring to the large and well-known Philadelphia marina.
Pearl Pointe is a small place along the Delaware River to enjoy a nice day.
The Burlington Riverfront Promenade along the Delaware River was renovated in 2020 as part of a revitalization project.
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Burlington’s blend of established bungalows and Colonial-era townhomes
Common house styles throughout Burlington include quaint bungalows and larger Colonial-inspired homes, with single-family residences more prominent in the Farnerville area of the city. Older Victorian-influenced townhomes and twin homes can be found closer to downtown in the New Yorkshire and New London neighborhoods. Within the City of Burlington, the median price for a single-family home is about $330,000, compared to $450,000 in the neighboring Burlington Township. The median price for a townhome is $395,000, compared to $415,000 in Burlington Township. Homes typically stay on the market for a little longer than a month, and most residences are at a higher-than-average flood risk due to their proximity to the Delaware River.
Italianate homes in Historic Yorkshire bring lots of character to the area.
1800's row homes in Historic Yorkshire sometimes have dormer windows.
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Burlington City public schools and Doane Academy on the river
The Burlington City Public School District, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche, includes two elementary schools, one middle school and Burlington City High School. A well-known private school option in the area is Doane Academy, a pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade academy that receives an A-plus rating. Niche also ranks this academy as the No. 2 best private Christian high school in the state of New Jersey. The campus, located on the riverbank, was founded in 1837 and features three buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Burlington City High School serves students in seventh through twelfth grade.
The Doane Academy received an A+ rating from Niche.
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Getting to Philly and NYC on the train, interstate or turnpike
U.S. Route 130 runs through the city, leading to Interstate 95 about 5 miles to the east and the New Jersey Turnpike about 5 miles to the south. “It’s very convenient having the interstate and the Jersey Turnpike right there,” says Leone. “The interstate has the most exits, and the Turnpike is for when you want to cut right through the state.” The NJ Transit bus system services the community, and there are also light rail stations for train commuters. From either Burlington South or Burlington Towne Centre, passengers can take the River Line south to Camden or north to Trenton. “A lot of people then take the PATCO that goes right into City Hall in Philadelphia,” says John Wuertz, Broker Associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeStyles, referring to the transfer in Camden. “And the NJ Transit Express train goes all the way to New York City,” referring to the transfer in Trenton that delivers passengers to Penn Station. Philadelphia Internationalis the nearest airport, about 30 miles away.
Weather and crime patterns in the City of Burlington
Burlington residents experience all four seasons, with temperature highs in the mid-80s during July, which is also the rainiest season. Temperature lows in the high-20s occur in January, which is also the month that sees the most snowfall. Based on these weather patterns, the best times to visit Burlington are in June or between August and September.
The violent crime rate in Burlington fluctuated between 2023 to 2024, with rates that reached as high as double and triple those of the national and state violent crime rates. However, these rates also dipped as low as half of the state’s rate and a third of the national rates. By the end of 2023, violent crime rates were on par with that of New Jersey, which were lower than the national average.
The property crime rate in Burlington also fluctuated from 2023 to 2024, with the rate rising to double that of the state’s rate and dipping to almost half of the national rate. 2023 ended with property crime rates being on par with New Jersey’s, lower than the national average.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
