27 / 100

Bucks County, PA

RANK #722 / 1001 NAT  ·  #42 / 44 PA  ·  POP 647,461

1YR FORECAST: +1.2%

5YR OUTLOOK: +25%

Our model projects Bucks County's housing market at +1.2% over the next year, underperforming most U.S. counties.

[01] Why Bucks County?

Doylestown, the county seat, offers a blend of historic charm and cultural attractions, including Fonthill Castle and the Mercer Museum. Bucks County, located in southeastern Pennsylvania, borders Philadelphia to the southwest and the Delaware River to the east, separating it from New Jersey. Commute options include SEPTA regional rail lines and bus routes connecting to Philadelphia and Trenton, NJ. The county features rolling hills, farmlands, and numerous parks, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and boating.

Bucks County offers a quality of life that attracts families and retirees, with highly-rated public schools across its 13 districts. The economy sees investment in sectors such as data centers, energy, and industrial/logistics, with local companies contributing to regional growth. Residents benefit from a range of amenities, including parks, restaurants, and shops, contributing to a suburban lifestyle with access to larger metropolitan areas.

MARKET PROFILE

Educated Suburban Growth

Bucks County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.1% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.

See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
15.7x

Overvalued relative to economy

Home Prices
+3.1%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
0.0

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
17x

Above national median (15x)

Housing looks overvalued at 15.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Woods Services Healthcare
    5,000+
  2. 2
    Bucks County Government Government
    1,000+
  3. 3
    Giant Food Stores LLC Retail
  4. 4
    Central Bucks School District Education
  5. 5
    Wal-Mart Associates Inc Retail
  6. 6
    Doylestown Hospital Healthcare
  7. 7
    Saint Mary Medical Center Healthcare
  8. 8
    Grand View Health Healthcare
  9. 9
    Northtec LLC Other
  10. 10
    Pennsbury School District Education

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Bucks County U.S. National

Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
647,461
+0.23% YoY
Median Household Income
$114,764
Median Home Value
$445,700
+3.15% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,605
Average Annual Pay
$66,474
+2.3% YoY
Employment
276,641
+0.7% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2575
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.27%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
44.8%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$540,500
Days on Market
22
Active market
Months of Supply
2.2
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
101.4%
Homes selling above asking
Sold Above List
51.7%
Listings w/ Price Drops
25.0%
Building Permits (2025)
780
Single-Family Permits
673

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

A
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
1.9
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
7.7
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
80.0
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Well below national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
39.0
Good
Good Air Days
83%
676 of 816 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
17
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Ground-level ozone
Yearly Trend
2021
37
2022
41
2023
39
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$21,970M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Data Center Campus (Falls Township)
Amazon
$20,000M Under Construction
Fairless Energy Center (Natural Gas Power Plant)
Edgewater Generation, LLC (formerly Vistra)
$1,320M Operating
Keystone Trade Center (Digital Infrastructure Campus)
NorthPoint Development
$500M Under Construction
Farm's Edge at Shady Brook (Age-Qualified Community)
Unknown
$50M Proposed
Woods Meadowbrook Apartment Building
Woods Services Campus
$50M Planned
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., Consolidated Edison Development Inc., Public Service Elec & Gas Co)
$50M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

Population Growth +0.2% 32 percentile
Income Growth +2.5% 43 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.5% 91 percentile
Home Price Change +3.1% 69 percentile
Rent Growth +3.2% 55 percentile
Price/Rent 17x 30 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bucks County, PA a good place to move to?

At 27/100, Bucks County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $114,764 combined with job growth of +0.7% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.

Is Bucks County affordable?

Housing in Bucks County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $445,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,605/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Bucks County growing or shrinking?

Population and employment in Bucks County are both close to flat — population +0.2% YoY and jobs +0.7%. Home values shifted +3.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.

Are people moving to Bucks County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.27% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Bucks County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Allegheny County, PA 28 Armstrong County, PA 26 Lehigh County, PA 29 Delaware County, PA 31 Montgomery County, PA 31 Washington County, PA 32 East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 27 Dakota County, MN 27