Lower Makefield

Make yourself at home in Lower Makefield, a leafy suburban township of Bucks County surrounded by the charming downtown of Yardley proper, located across the Delaware River from Trenton, New Jersey.

Jackie Hillgrube, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Hearthside, has called Lower Makefield home for about 30 years. She says, “I call it Camelot. I feel it is perfection in every way you look at it. You get a small-town feel with a lovely mix of people. We’re close to everything and never have to deal with traffic.”

The 18 square miles of Lower Makefield are primarily made up of subdivisions with various single-family homes among the township’s abundant greenery. You’ll find an array of housing styles on quarter to one-acre yards with plentiful trees that make you feel close to nature. On the lower end of pricing, you can get a mid-1900s home, such as a ranch-style, Cape Cod or Colonial Revival, starting at $400,000, ranging up to $800,000 for some newly renovated properties. In other parts of Lower Makefield, you’ll find larger Craftsman-style houses with 3,000 to 5,000 square feet of living space, ranging from $750,000 to $1 million. A mix of each of these home styles can be found along River Road with front yard balconies overlooking the Delaware River. “We’re definitely a river town,” says Hillgrube, “Every third house, you’ll see a fishing boat and jet skis. And you can head out on the water right from the town’s boat ramp.”

Students are divided between four elementary and three middle schools within the Pennsbury School District, all of which have an A- to A rating from Niche. Students at Quarry Hill Elementary go on to Pennwood Middle School. Those who attend Edgewood Elementary feed into Charles H. Boehm Middle School. And Makefield and Afton Elementary School students end up at William Penn Middle School. All students finish their degrees at Pennsbury High School, which has an A- rating from Niche and is ranked the 67th best public high school in the state. Pennsbury, the largest high school in Bucks County, is famous for its extravagant proms and was even awarded “Best Prom” by Readers Digest in 2004. Pennsbury proms have featured famous musicians like John Mayer, Maroon 5 and DJ Pauly D. In 2019, the high school’s prom broke the Guinness World Record for most lipstick kiss prints on a mural. Before each prom, students participate in a parade to celebrate the occasion.

Lower Makefield is a primarily residential township, so locals typically head to Yardley to check out the independent shops and restaurants. Most are lined along a quarter-mile strip of Main Street, a charming spot with a small colonial village vibe. Continental Tavern is a local favorite for those in the mood for classic American food and beer. But before it was the town pub, it was known as the Continental Hotel, serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad. While dining, you can check out the several artifacts on the wall that were dug up from the secret tunnel below. You’ll find lots of other local restaurants nearby, including Vault Brewery, a popular gastropub featuring live jazz music. You’ll find even more in the township’s two shopping centers, where you can buy groceries and other household products from ShopRite or McCaffrey’s Food Market.

Shady Brook Farm is the place to go for locally sourced produce. It’s also where folks frequently gather for weekly and seasonal events. Hillgrube says, “Every weekend, it’s a family gathering place with live music, farm-to-table food, homemade ice cream and so much more.” During FallFest, the farm is packed with people drinking hot cider, picking pumpkins and exploring the corn maze. Locals also enjoy getting spooked on the haunted hay ride during HorrorFest and being mesmerized by the drive-thru Holiday Light Show. Memorial Park is also known for hosting annual events, such as the Summer Food Truck Festival. The park is home to the Garden of Reflection, which honors all and local victims of 9/11. It offers a relaxing space to walk or jog along scenic paved trails and a playground and basketball court for kids to enjoy.

Right by the river with a quaint downtown and relaxing parks, Lower Makefield makes it easy to enjoy the slow-paced nature of this beautiful Bucks County township.

Written By

Nicolas Stuart

Photography Contributed By

Jesse Roehrer

Video By

Luke Mancari