Big cities are accessible from the rural setting of Wrightstown
When Realtor Sarah Peters drives into Wrightstown, she passes rows of corn on one side of the road and soybean fields on the other. “You have bucolic rolling hills and a lot of farmland,” says Peters, team lead of the Sarah Peters Team at eXp Realty and an active real estate agent in the community. A mix of subdivisions, farms and Colonial-era homes defines the scenery in the Pennsylvania township, which is otherwise covered in trees and fields. Despite the rural trappings, the community is within 10 miles of shopping destinations and an interstate, the latter of which makes it possible for Philadelphia and New York commuters to settle in Wrightstown.
Large homes ranging from farms to historic properties
Equestrian and cattle farms dot the landscape, as do stone colonial-style homes from the 1700s and 1800s. Wide lots, colonial-inspired architecture and ranch rail fences give some of the community’s small subdivisions a farm-like feel. Houses average about 2,500 square feet, larger than the national average. Wrightstown’s proximity to the interstate draws many business executives who work in Philadelphia and New York, Peters says. “Because of that, it’s just a little bit pricey. The cost of living is just a little higher than in some other areas [of Bucks County].” Homes on the lower end of the price spectrum have sold from $470,000 to $605,000, but most recently sold houses cost from $750,000 to $2.2 million.
Variety of business and technology classes at Council Rock High North
Children can start at Wrightstown Elementary School, which is graded an A-minus by Niche. Newtown Middle School and Council Rock High School North both receive A grades. The high school runs a Business, Computers & Information Technology Department, with more than a dozen courses in finance, marketing and technology that include accelerated business law and sports & entertainment marketing.
Baseball tournaments and library events in Wrightstown
A row of four baseball fields in Wrightstown hosts spring, summer and fall competitions for PDC Baseball Tournaments, a youth baseball organization. Nearby, the Village Library of Wrightstown screens movies, leads art workshops and hosts other events throughout the year for kids and adults. There’s more recreation in neighboring Newtown Township, home to green spaces including Helen Randle Park. In the borough of Newtown, the 140-year-old Newtown Theatre hosts live music, stand-up comedy shows and plays put on by the Newtown Arts Co.
Farmers contribute to organic food store, ice cream shop
An 1800s farm was converted into The Shoppes at Wrightstown, the community’s primary retail center. Organnons Natural Market sources products, ranging from turkey to cheese, from local farmers. In the same building, Owowcow Creamery makes ice cream flavors such as sweet honey cream and blueberry lemon using milk, honey and eggs from Pennsylvania farms. Down the street from The Shoppes at Wrightstown, Vince’s Pizzeria & Taproom has a beer wall with nearly 20 brews on tap. Residents can head about 10 miles to Doylestown to shop at Target or go about 4 miles to Newtown Township, where there’s McCaffrey’s Food Markets.
Middletown Grange Fair has been a local tradition for 50-plus years
The Middletown Grange Fair moved to Wrightstown in the ‘60s, and the community has been the home of the annual agricultural festival ever since. More than 50,000 people come to the fairgrounds over the course of five days in August to see livestock shows, tractor pulls and live music. From May until Thanksgiving, dozens of vendors set up on Saturdays at the Wrightstown Farmers Market, selling items from locally raised pork to homemade pierogies.
Nearby I-295 aids the drive to Philadelphia, New York
Route 413 passes through the car-dependent community and leads south to Newtown Township and north toward Doylestown, home to Doylestown Health. Wrightstown residents live within 10 miles of Interstate 295, which motorists can use to drive 35 miles to Philadelphia or 70 miles to New York City. Philadelphia International Airport is the closest place to catch a commercial flight
Written By
Alex Soderstrom