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Bucks County, PA

Bensalem

RANK #820 / 996 NAT  ·  #40 / 44 PA  ·  POP 645,163

1YR FORECAST: +0.3%

5YR OUTLOOK: +15%

Our model projects Bucks County's housing market at +0.3% 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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
6.7x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.7%

Above national median

Home Prices
+3.3%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
0.0

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 6.7x 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

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
645,163
+0.2% YoY
Median Household Income
$107,826
Median Home Value
$395,800
+3.32% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,461
Average Annual Pay
$64,953
+3.2% YoY
Employment
274,632
+2.0% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2724
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.35%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
43.3%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$463,750
Days on Market
35
Active market
Months of Supply
2.5
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.3%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
33.6%
Listings w/ Price Drops
14.6%
Building Permits (2024)
718
Single-Family Permits
511

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

GDP Growth +2.7% 50 percentile
Population Growth +0.2% 39 percentile
Income Growth +8.6% 52 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.6% 93 percentile
Home Price Change +3.3% 75 percentile
Rent Growth +3.0% 50 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 35 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

The data is not encouraging — Bucks County scores just 17/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #820 of 996 counties. Job growth at +2.0% and median household income of $107,826 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.

Is Bucks County affordable?

Housing in Bucks County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $395,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,461/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Bucks County growing or shrinking?

Employers in Bucks County are hiring — job growth of +2.0% — but the population is close to flat (+0.2% YoY). Home values moved +3.3% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.

Are people moving to Bucks County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.35% 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 16 Carbon County, PA 19 Butler County, PA 20 Beaver County, PA 14 Centre County, PA 21 Montgomery County, PA 22 Baltimore city, MD 17 New Castle County, DE 18