Your Bensalem, PA, Real Estate Questions Answered

Historic Bensalem, Pennsylvania, has many perks drawing and keeping residents inside its community. Locals in the greater metro know it for the Parx Casino, but locals prize it for more than a place for gaming. One advantage is the convenience to Philadelphia, at just 20 miles northeast, and to the beautiful rolling countryside of Bucks County with its wineries and attractions. Another is the more affordable but often charming and historic real estate.

The following provides an overview of what you should know if Bensalem is a place you’re thinking about living. Learn about this charming suburban community in the Philadelphia metro.

Where is Bensalem, PA?

Bensalem Township is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia and 20 miles southwest of Trenton, NJ. In case you’re from out of state, a township is a division of a larger county, and this one contains the incorporated Bensalem plus 13 neighborhoods and unincorporated communities.

Water surrounds the township, with the Delaware River being the most notable. Neshaminy Creek forms the eastern border, and Poquessing Creek the western. The township is easily accessible from these metros via the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-95) and Route 1.

What is the cost of living in Bensalem, PA?

The cost of living in Bensalem is slightly above the national average by about 10%. Most of the increased expenses are in transportation, groceries, and miscellaneous costs. However, you’ll also pay about 5% more than the national average in housing.

Bensalem Township’s location between Philadelphia and Trenton, along the Delaware River, and beautiful historic homes make living here more desirable and contribute to its higher housing costs.

What is the average price of a home in Bensalem, PA?

The homes in Bensalem range from historical mansions dating to the early 1700s to more contemporary housing.

Looking at data from May 2020, overall housing prices have been relatively stable, first rising incrementally to peak at $425,000 in February 2022, followed by a slow decline through spring 2023. As of April 2023, the median list price was $380,000, with 113 homes on the market. This was down 4.2% year-over-year.

The most affordable listing was $19,500 for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom manufactured home. The most expensive existing single-family home was $900,000 for a five-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home on a 0.28-acre lot in Beechwood Estates. The market’s median price could fetch you a single-family three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home of 1,988 sq ft or a similarly sized townhome.

Are there any condos or townhomes available in Bensalem, PA?

Condo and townhome living free you from mowing, landscaping, and taking care of the home’s exterior. It can also place you closer to downtown centers, where you’ll find a lot of shopping, entertainment, or places to work.

Bensalem does have condos and townhomes for sale. April 2023 had 36 on the market, with townhomes more prevalent than condos.

The most expensive was a new construction three-floor townhome for $519,900 with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The most affordable was another townhome in an active adult community for $249,900 with 1,149 sq ft, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

Some areas you can look for these homes include, but are not limited to:

• Salem Manor
• Neshaminy Valley
• Clusters neighborhood
• Waterside
• Hidden Valley
• Saddlebrook Estates

What is the property tax rate for Bensalem, PA?

Property taxes in Pennsylvania can be complex. The Bucks County Board of Assessment uses an assessment ratio of 4.4% set by the Pennsylvania State Taxation Equalization Board as of 2023.

Bensalem Township’s 2023 tax rates were as follows:

• Property (including funds for fire, EMS, roads, and general purpose) total: 20.75
• School District: 166.18
• Bucks County: 25.4

And interestingly enough, as of 2023, residents received a $300 Homeowners’ Assistance Grant funded by the Parx Casino host fees. It’s the only township in the commonwealth to pay its residents host fees.

What county is Bensalem, PA, in?

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a historic county in the Philadelphia metro. It’s here General George Washington famously crossed the Delaware River in 1776 and where colonist William Penn had his estate.

Modern Bucks County presents a lush, rolling countryside with historic and charming towns mixed between working farms. The history means there are a lot of attractions to see and experience, from old battlefields to Underground Railroad stops to picturesque covered bridges. Culturally, it’s a thriving wine-growing region and a large community with agribusinesses.

Doylestown is the county seat, but over 24 other townships and 23 boroughs divide the 644 square miles.

Is Bensalem, PA growing?

With a population of nearly 60,000, Bensalem is the largest municipality in Bucks County. Only 2,000 people were added to the population from 2010 to 2020. There has been no discernible change in population since 1990, as much of the area’s growth is restricted by the highly developed township and the defined city limits.

Bucks County is the state’s fourth-most populated county in Pennsylvania, with over 646,000 residents. It grew by 3.4% over the last decade. It projects around 692,000 residents by 2030.

What neighborhoods are in Bensalem, PA?

For this, we’re looking at the entire township, not just neighborhoods inside the City of Bensalem.

Andalusia

Andalusia is both a historic neighborhood and an unincorporated community in southernmost Bensalem. It shares a border with Philadelphia along the Poquessing Creek and New Jersey along the Delaware River. The neighborhood name comes from the estate of Nicholas Biddle, a Philadelphia financier who lived here between 1786 and 1844. His estate and mansion, Andalusia, is now a National Historic Landmark.

The homes here are among the area’s most historic and iconic, having been estates for wealthy Philadelphians during the 1800s. They built homes in Gothic Revival and Greek Revival styles. However, it evolved into a middle-class suburb during the 1900s, so most of the area’s residential housing features grid-style streets with small single-family homes from the 1920s.

Cornwells Heights

Cornwells Heights is a census-designated area served by the Cornwells Heights train station, which has a park-and-ride facility that connects to Interstate 95. The station offers transportation services through SEPTA Regional Rail’s Trenton Line, Amtrak’s Keystone Service, and Northeast Regional service along the Northeast Corridor.

The most significant feature is the Holy Ghost Preparatory School campus. Once a seminary school for young men, today it is an all-boys private school of about 500 students.

Eddington

Next door to Cornell’s Heights, Eddington has its own train station along the regional Trenton Line. The highly residential section of town is convenient to the Bensalem Township Country Club and I-95.

Neshaminy Valley

The Neshaminy Valley neighborhood consists of townhomes and single-family houses bordering a gentle bend in the namesake creek. These homes were primarily constructed between 1969 and 1987, with a median age of around 1975. However, the historic Growden Mansion is at the center, built in the late 1700s. Locals can walk their dogs or play with their kids in the adjacent open space. The April 2023 median list price was $372,500, with 19 homes for sale.

Trevose

Named after historic Trevose Manor, now a National Historic Landmark, the Parx Casino is part of the attractions in this part of town. But so is the convenience, as locals are served by a stop on the West Trenton Line and are close to six brand stores like Lowe’s, Target, and Walmart.

These communities in the township, plus Bensalem, break down into various neighborhoods that a local real estate agent can help you explore to find the right amenities for your lifestyle.

Are there any waterfront properties found in Bensalem, PA?

Beautiful Bensalem Township has water on three sides, so you can find some waterfront real estate in the area. These properties are on creeks or rivers. However, while Bensalem is surrounded by these waterways, finding residential real estate for sale will require more patience.

The April 2023 market had two listings with waterfront–one single-family home on Neshaminy Creek and a condo on the Delaware River.

How is golf in Bensalem, PA?

Bensalem Township Country Club is the go-to spot for golfers. They have a full 18-hole course plus amenities like a driving range, pro shop, and restaurant.

Are there golf course communities in Bensalem, PA?

Bensalem lacks a formal golf course community, but if you’d like to be near the fairways, try the Village Green community. Some of the homes on cul-de-sacs off Village Green Blvd back up to the Bensalem Township Country Club. Atlantic Avenue homes on the course’s north side may also have golf course views.

What areas are near Bensalem, PA?

Bensalem is conveniently near several other towns and cities in the greater Philadelphia metro.

To the south, you can visit Philadelphia and its many cultural attractions. At 20 miles away, it’s not unreasonable to commute into town for work, increasing your employment prospects.

To the north, explore historic Trenton, New Jersey, the state capital, or go to Princeton for art galleries and great restaurants. You can even keep on going to reach New York City.

Heading east will take you deeper into scenic Bucks County, with charming villages like New Hope and Doylestown. Taste vintages from the world-class wineries featured on the Bucks County wine trail, or check out the five historic castles rising from the landscape.

All of these destinations are an easy day trip from Bensalem.

What to know about living in Bensalem, PA

Bensalem has a rich history dating back to the 1600s when Europeans first settled the area. The township played an essential role in the Revolutionary War and was also a center for farming and manufacturing.

Don’t miss Neshaminy State Park and Benjamin Rush State Park for outdoor activities! Both are along creeks, just two different ones. These parks offer plenty of green space, hiking trails, and wildlife watching.

The main attraction for visitors is Parx Casino, boasting over 3,000 slot machines and 180 gaming tables. The facilities include live horse racing, a restaurant, and bars.

Bensalem has several shopping centers, some with larger chain stores and local shops. Check out the Neshaminy Mall in Trevose or the Historic Fallsington District in Eddington.

No matter where you are in Bensalem, you’re never far from great food. The best restaurants draw from the nearby countryside to deliver fresh, seasonal fare.

The township has a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, including the Bensalem Fall Festival, the Bensalem Unity Week, and the Bensalem Summer Concert Series.

Moving to Bensalem, PA, will unlock the door to experiencing all the beauty and convenience this community offers. From outdoor activities to entertainment venues and delicious restaurants, something is appealing to people about life here. Find the perfect property for your family with the help of a local real estate agent.