On the banks of the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County, historic Sunbury draws homebuyers and visitors with its vibrant riverfront, charming downtown, comparatively lower-cost housing and proximity to nearby Harrisburg and Williamsport. “We offer all the benefits of the big city in a small town,” says associate broker Aimee Buehner with the Bowen Agency. Buehner is a Sunbury native, has sold homes in the area for 17 years, and belongs to the regional chamber of commerce and local economic development organization. “Thomas Edison installed the first three-wire electric lighting system in Sunbury. Two branches of the Susquehanna River meet here, and residents can enjoy Lake Augusta in the summertime.”
Sunbury is also known for its decades-old businesses. Zimmerman Motors on Market Street started selling horse-drawn buggies, carriages, and sleighs in 1889 and now is the area’s leading Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealer. Weis Markets was also started in Sunbury in 1912 and has several stores, a corporate headquarters and manufacturing plants in town.
“The town stands out with mom-and-pop shops, a farmers market, an antique mall in the railroad station, and local events on the river and Market Street,” says Chantelle Jack with Exp Realty in Lewisburg. She and her partner Tracy Miloro have been in business for four years and have been local Realtors for at least seven. “The Sunbury River Fest is held on the riverfront in August,” Miloro adds. “There’s also the Augusta Lake Wine and Brew Festival in September.” Sunbury celebrates New Year’s by dropping a 20-foot by 10-foot light bulb outside Sunbury City Hall, an homage to Edison and his mark on the community. “It’s a diverse city with plenty to do,” Chantelle says.
On the banks of the Susquehanna River, historic Sunbury draws homebuyers and visitors with its vibrant riverfront and charming downtown.
Weis Markets started in Sunbury in 1912 and has several stores in town, including the original one.
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From Lake Augusta to Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens
With playgrounds around town, the high school’s Shikellamy Stadium, and Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens, a bird-watching area with flowering trees and shrubs, Sunbury is designed for outdoor enjoyment.
Lake Augusta is the most noteworthy part of Sunbury's recreation because it is temporary. The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam along Sunbury’s southern tip is the world’s longest inflatable dam. From May until the fall, the dam is inflated to form a barrier that raises the Susquehanna River at least eight feet, creating 4 miles of unhindered boating, otherwise known as Lake Augusta. Sunbury’s floodwall and levee system, designed and built by the US Army Corps of Engineers, protect the city from hurricanes and other flooding events. The floodwall and levees form the eastern border of Lake Augusta, which is considered part of Shikellamy State Park. The park borders the lake to the north and west where residents can access a seasonal marina, boat launches, hiking and biking trails, and picnic areas.
Several parks in the city are designed for community events and sports, such as Merle Phillips Riverfront Park, which has an amphitheater that faces the river, or Cameron Park in the heart of downtown, with a gazebo for concerts and parking on two sides for classic car shows. Ballparks, tennis courts, a skate/BMX park and a large frontier-themed playground surround the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA, which includes a gymnasium and indoor pool. Next door, the James R. Eister Youth and Community Center offers a covered outdoor ice rink and community pool.
The Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA includes a gymnasium, indoor pool and walking track and a full sized basketball court.
On Friday nights, residents from all over Sunbury gather at Shikellamy Stadium to cheer on their hometown Braves.
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Falling crime numbers and the Sunbury climate
According to the Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Reporting System, violent and property crimes in Sunbury have declined by as much as 22% over the last five years. FBI crime data confirms this downward trend.
Residents enjoy all four seasons in Sunbury, which has a humid continental climate with an average high of 85 degrees in summer and an average low of 20 degrees in winter. Spring and summer have the most rainfall, a little more than the national average, and winter brings snow amounts on par with the national average.
Historic homes with lower-cost pricing
The median home price in Sunbury is $136,000, well under the national median price of $404,000. Most homes are historic, built between 1880 and 1925, designed in the colonial style as single-family homes, duplexes or townhouses. The conditions of the homes can vary greatly, from rundown properties needing renovation to well-maintained, grand residences. Homebuyers will also see newer colonial- and Dutch Colonial-styles, ramblers with built-in garages or carports, and Cape Cods with large second-floor living spaces.
“The median sale price in Sudbury is very good,” Buehner says, “The range of low to high prices attracts more buyers, too.” That variety opens the door for first-time homebuyers and retirees who can get more bang for their buck by returning to Sunbury to live. “It’s one of the last few affordable towns in the Susquehanna River Valley,” Jack says. “You can buy a home for under $100,000. It may not be perfect, but it’s livable and move-in ready.”
Most homes in Sunbury are historic, built between 1880 and 1925.
Sunbury is one of the last few affordable towns in the Susquehanna River Valley with its low median home price of $136,000.
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Downtown eateries, Weis Markets and the arts in Sunbury
Sunbury’s central commercial district is Market Street, which runs from the eastern edge of town to the Susquehanna River. Iconic businesses like The Squeeze-In, a hotdog restaurant with a storefront only 7.5-feet wide, have served the community for decades. Weis Markets’ original flagship store, built on Market Street in 1912, still stands ready to welcome grocery shoppers. It’s next to the Northumberland County Courthouse, a beautiful three-story Italianate brownstone with arched doorways and a clock tower.
Weis Markets’ ice cream and meat plants occupy most of Sunbury’s southern tip on Front Street. Southern BBQ and Ice Cream, a relative newcomer to Sunbury, is nearby, serving sandwiches and sides from a takeout window. The north end of town also has a large commercial center, with businesses like Bottle Works, a small dine-in shop serving cheesesteaks and beer.
The YMCA Arts Center, close to downtown on 5th Street, is where residents can explore their creative side. The Arts Center offers classes and workshops for pottery, drawing, painting, jewelry making and woodworking. Around the corner, the Albright Center for the Arts is a hub for education, music and performances, with a space that seats up to 600 in a historic church on Chestnut Street.
The Squeeze-In is an iconic hotdog restaurant in downtown Sunbury with a storefront only 7.5-feet wide.
The YMCA Arts Center in Sunbury offers classes and workshops for pottery, drawing, painting, jewelry making and woodworking.
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Sunbury public schools and nearby universities
The Shikellamy School District serves Sunbury and several neighboring townships. It receives a C-plus from Niche. The district offers four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Shikellamy High on Walnut Street is well known for its band and theatre programs. Students can also participate in clubs like Forensics, the Future Business Leaders of America, Ski Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Students can also attend the SUN Area Technical Institute, 14 miles west in New Berlin, for construction and mechanical trades.
Graduates can attend Lackawanna College Sunbury Center, a business school that awards bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificates. Bucknell University, ranked among the top national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, is in Lewisburg. Susquehanna University offers 297 scenic acres in Selinsgrove. Both Bucknell and Susquehanna are within 10 miles of Sunbury.
College students in Sunbury can attend Lackawanna College, a business school that awards bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificates.
Shikellamy High School has 887 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 25 to 1.
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Public transportation and healthcare resources
Sunbury is highly pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks on every street, a central downtown, and restaurants and small markets peppering neighborhoods. The only designated bike lanes are on Front Street along the waterfront. Route 61 is the main highway that comes through town. It connects with U.S. 15 that runs to Harrisburg, 54 miles south, and Williamsport, 35 miles north, where drivers can pick up Interstate 80.
The nearest hospitals are within 15 miles and include Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, featuring orthopedic care, physical therapy and a dedicated breast health center. Geisinger Medical Center in Danville offers comprehensive stroke care, pediatric emergency care and other specialties.
Written By
Christopher Kopczynski
Photography Contributed By
Justin Schmidt
Video By
Adam Lapallo
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Sunbury, PA sell after 14 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Sunbury, PA over the last 12 months is $254,500, down 24% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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