Community abounds in Doylestown, located over 30 miles north of Philadelphia in southeastern Pennsylvania. Comprised of a small town center surrounded by a residential landscape, the city serves as the county seat of Bucks County. “As a result of it being the county seat, people have gravitated to this area because of that,” says Maryellen O’Brien, a Realtor with Keller Williams. “It’s also got this wonderful, small-town vibe.” That vibe is exemplified by a close-knit population that numbers just over 8,000. “When you walk into town, you know you're going to walk into someone you know,” O’Brien says. “It's a wonderful feeling to be in a town that's so inclusive.”
Residents live around Doylestown proper, but aren’t far from heading into the walkable cityscape to visit landmarks, stores and restaurants. “You've got a little downtown area with museums and parks and shopping where you can fulfill anything you need to do, but can also take off and go to work in the city,” O’Brien says. Doylestown residents are within driving distance or can take public transportation to Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City. “The county is one of our biggest employers,” O’Brien says. “The Doylestown Hospital is there, and it’s also a big employer.”
A bevy of annual events, which celebrate holidays, local artists and more, dot the calendar and range from visiting Santa Claus to touring museums of the colonial-era city’s past. Doylestown got its name from William Doyle’s Tavern, a popular stop for travelers during that time. That openness of the community still prevails in the present day, with the community coming together frequently throughout the year. “The generosity of our community is outstanding,” O’Brien says. “We just have a caring community.”
The Streets of Doylestown are lit up beautifully at night.
Doylestown is a bustling city with a lot of activities and history for residents to enjoy.
In Doylestown, residents go window-shopping along the busy streets and look for great deals.
Expand your imagination at the The Mercer Museum and Library in Doylestown.
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Historic housing dating back a century or more
As Doylestown’s landscape fans out from its town center, the streets gradually become more residential before winding suburban roads take over farther away from the city proper. A mix of townhouses and single-family homes populate the area. The median price of Doylestown properties is $644,333, and homes often spend about three weeks on the market before selling. Townhouses most often fall between $350,000 and $600,000.
Single-family homes, meanwhile, typically range from $600,000 to $950,000. A number of them, however, can cost over $1 million. Colonial revivals are the most common style in Doylestown, but an assortment of ranch-style homes, Victorians and Cape Cods are found there as well. Some houses date to the early-20th century or even earlier, but most were constructed between 1950 and 2000. Tree-lined streets define the outskirts of Doylestown, lending themselves to a quiet, suburban atmosphere.
Doylestown immerses visitors with historically beautiful homes and stunning curb appeal.
Colonials are timeless and gorgeous along the walkable streets of Doylestown.
Victorian homes stand out among older homes in Doylestown with easy access to downtown.
Doylestown has comfortably sized homes closer to downtown with space for big families.
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Local eats and shops in the town center
Most of the restaurants in Doylestown are concentrated around where State and Main Streets meet, which includes cafes, bars, bakeries and international fare ranging from Italian to Mexican food. The locally-owned outlets even add to the area’s community engagement. “I love Bocelli’s,” O’Brien says. “It’s one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The food is terrific, but what I like even better is that the owner is so good to local organizations. He’ll drop off food to teachers at the beginning of the school year.”
Despite the intersection of the major roads, central Doylestown is very walkable and lined with stores, as well. “Right in Doylestown borough, we have specialty shops, gift shops and a lot of restaurants,” O’Brien says. “It’s a tourist destination. You have a ton of fine dining, casual dining, and sometimes it’s outdoors. In the summer, they’ll close some streets and the restaurants will have fine dining out on the street.” Residents can walk to the town center from their homes. “You would have a hard time walking in Doylestown and not finding a wonderful restaurant,” O’Brien says. Multiple grocery chains, including Giant and Weis Markets, sit up Main Street from downtown.
Enjoy time with friends and watch sports over specialty pizza at Villa Capri in Doylestown.
Doylestown is a bustling city with a lot of activities and history for residents to enjoy.
Doylestown is known for its walkable streets from residential streets to shopping or dining.
Giant, in Cross Keys Place, is a go-to place for grocery shopping needs in Doylestown.
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Events fill the calendar for Doylestown residents
Holidays are a centerpiece of the event schedule in Doylestown. “We have a Memorial Day parade, where the local marching bands come in,” O’Brien says, “and we have old-fashioned 4th of July, where there are bike races and crafts at the tileworks.” The Independence Day celebration takes place at the Fonthill Castle and the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works, and even more festivities crop up around the holiday season. “The day after Thanksgiving, Santa comes in on a fire truck,” O’Brien says, adding that families visit Santa’s House throughout December. “It’s packed. They close the center of town and the band brings him in. There’s also a dreidel on display, so we try to make sure that everyone feels included. It’s just a very friendly vibe.”
Seasonal happenings mark autumn in Doylestown, as well. “There’s a pumpkin festival, where they carve pumpkins and light them all up at night,” O’Brien says. “There’s a lot of weekend activities.” The Travis Manion Foundation puts on a 9/11 Heroes Run 5K each year, and the Doylestown Arts Festival takes place each September to spotlight artists and hosts live music. “It’s a very hyper-local scene, but it extends out beyond just the local, which I think is a really wonderful thing,” O’Brien says. “There’s always something to do, and they’re cognizant of the fact that the residents want to support the businesses.”
Several other institutions revolve around Henry Chapman Mercer, one of the area’s most influential residents. Mercer was an archaeologist, tilemaker and pioneer of the Arts and Crafts Movement and once lived at the Fonthill Castle. “Henry Mercer built Mercer Museum, which houses artifacts from the industrial period,” O’Brien says. “It’s a great place of culture and activity for any age.”
Friends and families of Doylestown attend the 5K Race held every year.
Grab a photo posing as bunnies in Peddlers Village with family for Peeps in the Village.
There are thousands of pumpkins to choose from at None Such Farm Pumpkin Fest in Buckingham.
Doylestown Art Festival draws people from all over the region.
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Green spaces outside of Doylestown
Few sizable green spaces lie within Doylestown proper, but several nearby spots accommodate recreation. Central Park, to the south of the city’s main area, is the most significant space. An expansive playground in the style of a castle sits near the middle of the park, and is complemented by surrounding amenities like a disc golf course, sensory trail and amphitheater. “They’re about to build a community center,” O’Brien says.
“We have Lake Galena, which is 15 minutes away at most. It has canoeing, small boating and paddleboarding, which a lot of people do.” Lake Galena visitors can also fish or take to trails for walking and biking. Closer to the city, Chapman Park has volleyball courts and a pool, while golfers hit the links at Doylestown Country Club. “There are great sports programs for the kids,” O’Brien says. “You name it, it’s here. We’ve got great fields for kids to play on.” Hellerick’s Adventure Farm is open seasonally and has themed activities like a corn maze, silo climbing wall and tractor tire play area.
Families enjoy the massive castle playground at Central Park in Doylestown.
The Doylestown Country Club hosts values members at their beautiful 18-hole golf course.
Peace Valley Park has a paved trail wrapping around Lake Galena.
Bikers and dirt bikers love the Pump Track in Doylestown
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Major routes and public transportation options
Route 202 and Pennsylvania Route 611 meet at a cloverleaf interchange just south of Doylestown proper, and State Street connects the two thoroughfares while crossing directly through the middle of the city. “You have easy access to major highways,” O’Brien says. “A lot of people commute into the New Jersey because we’re so close, and a lot of people commute into Philadelphia. Really, just about anything is accessible.” Philadelphia is just over 30 miles south of Doylestown, while the closest cross into New Jersey sits about 12 miles northeast.
Residents have convenience to more than just major cities. “One of the coolest things about Doylestown is you can be under a mile-and-a-half to the Jersey Shorepoint, but you can also be a mile-and-a-half to skiing in the Poconos,” O’Brien says. “I-85 goes all the way into New York. We have a lot of people that commute into New York for work.” New York City itself is around 80 miles northeast. SEPTA Regional Rail operates a line, formerly known as the R5, that runs between Doylestown and Philadelphia. Doylestown Dart and Dart West bus lines also offer public transportation in the area.
Low crime rates and cold winters
According to crime statistics recorded by the FBI, Doylestown averaged about 6.3 violent crimes per month in 2023; property crimes occurred at an average of 9.7 each month. In comparison, the state of Pennsylvania recorded an average of 9,301.1 violent crimes a month in 2023, while property crimes landed at a mean of 16,189.3 per month.
Doylestown experiences cold winters and warm summers, with snow a significant factor between November and February. Residents should be aware that the area can receive close to 10 inches of snow in the first two months of the year.
An A-rated school district serves the area
Several schools within the Central Bucks School District lie in and near Doylestown. The district is the primary educational provider for the area and receives an A rating from Niche. All 15 elementary schools span kindergarten through sixth grade, while the five middle schools run from seventh to ninth grades. Depending on location, one of three high schools complete education for Doylestown students. Nearby private schools include Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, which scores an A with Niche. The private Delaware Valley University sits on the outskirts of Doylestown and has an enrollment of close to 2,000, with a number of courses focused on agriculture.
Doyle Elementary School receives an overall A grade from niche.com.
Central Bucks West High School is a top 25 ranked public school in Pennsylvania.
Lenape Middle School serves 866 students in grades 7-9.
High School sports are very successful at Central Bucks High School - South.
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