On the easternmost border of Pennsylvania where the state kisses the Delaware River, Levittown has been home to about 51,000 residents for the last decade. After successfully creating the first Levittown in Long Island, New York, a real estate development company called Levitt & Sons went to work creating the second Levittown about 25 miles northeast of Philadelphia. Construction began in 1951, and by 1957, more than 17,000 homes were up. Levitt & Sons built on slabs rather than basements and stuck to six basic models of homes, including ranch-styles and Cape Cods, which helped with their mass production business model. Originally, this suburb was built for World War II veterans and their families, and FHA guidelines restricted Black Americans from buying a home in the community. By 1953, Levittown became the largest census-designated place in the country with no residents of color. However, in 1957, the first Black family moved in, and after a series of racial attacks and even legislative intervention spearheaded by Martin Luther King, Jr., the family moved out just four years later. But today, Levittown continues to evolve and embrace change, welcoming diversity and leaving its segregated history in the past.
Often known as the first American suburb, Levittown is comprised mostly of residential neighborhoods with conventional homes and small shopping centers with grocery stores. "The Levittown neighborhoods are pretty much all residential,” says Stacey Stier, a Bucks County native and Realtor with Realty One Group. “The main roads around here, like New Falls and Mill Creek, are where all the businesses are. They connect everything together. Once you’re off those roads, you’re in a neighborhood.” Levittown straddles three different townships: Falls, Middletown and Bristol. Each township also has its own school district, so a student’s enrollment depends on where they live in the community. “Some people don’t know that when they’re looking for a home, so it really makes a difference,” says Melissa Centifonti, a Levittown local and Realtor with Realty One Group.
Levittown developments started to build in 1952.
Most Levittown homes have easy access to sidewalks and convenient distance to activities.
Forsythia Gate is part of the original Levittown planned communities and features small homes.
The Junewood neighborhood is a part of Levittown and occupies about a 1/4 of a square mile.
1/4
Mass-produced Cape Cods with additions and newer Colonial-inspired homes
There are about 40 neighborhoods – or sections – throughout Levittown, and while they all look similar, there is usually something that makes them each one unique, like a neighborhood park or welcome signage. Sidewalks line the streets of each section, except for in the collection known as “The Gates,” which is comprised of Forsythia Gate , Snowball Gate and Red Rose Gate . The lack of sidewalks was an intentional choice intended to give these neighborhoods a more polished, upscale look. Therefore, homes in these communities are often larger than in the rest of Levittown.
Outside of “The Gates,” Cape Cods with steep front-facing gable roofs are common, but very few of these are the original builds. Many of these models were originally around 1,000 square feet, so residents have converted garages and contracted additions, adding variety to what could be considered a once-uniform streetscape. “My uncle Joe, who was a mason, would come over and do the fireplace,” says Helen Irvine, a realtor with Keller Williams Real Estate-Langhorne, who grew up in Levittown. “We would all be helping each other improve our homes. The roots of the community have been built off that.” Very few homes are the 1950s original, and most have since been renovated or expanded. Some of the original homes have even been torn down and rebuilt, often with colonial-inspired architectural styles.
The median housing price in Levittown is around $380,000, which is below the national median. The market is competitive, with homes typically selling within two weeks to a month, and most homes sell for about 3% above the asking price. While the market is more competitive than the nearby cities of Philadelphia and Trenton, homes are still more affordable in Levittown than in New York City. “Levittown was advertised for New Yorkers as a bedroom community. That’s why it attracts people from the city. It’s affordable,” says Christine Jandovitz, an area local and Realtor with Keller Williams Langhorne who transplanted from New York 34 years ago.
Cape Cods were built in the 1960s and carry similar cascading roof designs in Levittown.
A few Cape Cods have been renovated to include full second stories in Levittown.
Larger Colonial Revival homes in Levittown sell around $450,000.
The residential streets of Levittown offer peace and quiet to residents.
1/4
Local commuting options to Philadelphia and New York City
Many Levittown residents commute to Philadelphia or New York City, so the town’s central location is a major draw. Interstate 95 borders the southern region of the community, converging with Interstate 295, which runs along the west side. Proximity to these interstates makes Philadelphia International Airport a 35-mile drive and the Trenton-Mercer Airport a 12-mile drive. “On a perfect day with no traffic, Philadelphia Airport is 40 minutes away, but there’s usually always traffic because the airport is on the other side of the city,” Stier says. “If I can fly out of Trenton, I will. But the only airlines there are Frontier and Spirit, and there’s only one terminal.”
Commuters have public transit options as well. There are four passenger train stations around Levittown, all offering SEPTA service into Philadelphia and Trenton. Once in Trenton, passengers can take the Amtrak or the NJ Transit express train right into New York City. The SEPTA bus also services the community.
You can take a SEPTA Train to Philadelphia at one of the 4 stations near Levittown.
SEPTA Trains to West Trenton are minutes from Levittown.
Locals can take the Septa bus along New Falls Road in Levittown for convenience.
Interstate 95 is accessible to residents of Levittown who commute to Philadelphia.
1/4
Music and events at Falls Township and Forsythia Crossing parks
On the eastern side of Levittown, Falls Township Community Park is the largest park in town. In addition to a 70-acre lake, there is a playground, a skate park, athletic fields, athletic courts and a dog park. There are also several neighborhood pocket parks dispersed throughout town. “We replaced four or five playgrounds in the last four years, so about one a year,” says Brian Andrews, Parks Director for Falls Township. “We’re making them more accessible, with a lot of emphasis on children in wheelchairs or on the autism spectrum.” Falls Township Community Parks hosts several events throughout the year, one of the most well-attended being the Touch- A A-Truck Festival. “It’s a two-day event. On the first night there’s food trucks, live music and a beer garden,” Andrews says. “Then the next day, local contractors and other first responders bring their vehicles and let the kids explore them. We also have a quiet hour, for children with sensory needs.” The park also hosts a summer concert series, and there are talks of adding an amphitheater, so larger acts can come to Levittown.
On the west side of town, the smaller Forsythia Crossing Park has a playground and a roller hockey rink, which was added in 2024. In the fall, the park hosts Groovin’ at the Gates, complete with live music, food vendors, local merchants and children’s activities. “They run shuttles from other neighborhoods to Forsythia Crossing Park, so everyone can go to the shows,” Centifonti adds.
Levittown locals love the Skate Park in Falls Township Community Park.
Levittown kids love the playground at Falls Township Community Park.
Forsythia Crossing Park in Levittown offers many peaceful spots for walking and relaxing.
Forsythia Crossing Park is a 6.6 acre park with a variety of amenities in Levittown.
1/4
Local grocers throughout and big-box shopping around Oxford Valley Mall
There are several small-scale shopping plazas with eateries, storefronts and grocers like ShopRite, Giant, Aldi and Redner’s scattered throughout Levittown. “One of the big draws in Levittown is that there are so many grocery stores,” Centifonti says. “Within a quarter-mile of my house, there are three different options.”
Just north of town, the Oxford Valley Mall area provides even more shopping and dining variety. In addition to department stores like Macy’s and JCPenney inside the mall, there are other big-box stores like Target and Sam’s Club. This is also a medical area, with several clinics and Jefferson Bucks Hospital nearby. A big attraction in this commercial area is Sesame Place, a Sesame Street-themed amusement park with roller coasters and a water park. To keep up with the frequent visitors to the area, the town recently added luxury apartments called Atlee Square next to the mall.
Residents from Levittown enjoy grocery shopping at the local ShopRite.
Giant is popular for grocery shopping for Levittown residents.
Redner's Market on Lincoln Highway serves the Levittown community.
There are many places to get groceries & baked goods in Levittown.
1/4
Pennsbury, Neshaminy and Bristol Township school districts
Since Levittown extends across three counties with three different school districts, the schools that students attend depend on where they live in the town. Falls Township neighborhoods like Thornridge and Birch Valley fall into the Pennsbury High School District, which receives an A rating from Niche. Middletown Township communities, including Cobalt Ridge are zoned for schools in the Neshaminy School District, which has a B-plus rating.
Crabtree Hollow , Oak Tree Hollow and their neighbors belong to the C-minus-rated Bristol Township School District.
Private school options around Levittown include The Pen Ryn School and The Calvary Christian School, both of which serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. “Levittown schools are pretty decent across the board, and because of that, people don’t necessarily feel the need to send their children to private schools,” Stier notes. “They closed a lot of private Catholic schools because of this.”
The Bristol School district caters to students in some Levittown Neighborhoods.
Neshaminy School district caters to students in some Levittown Neighborhoods.
Pennsbury High School serves students 9-12th grade.
There are many school buses used to get the children to & from school in Levittown.
1/4
All four seasons and comparatively low crime rates in Levittown
Levittown has all four seasons, with highs in the 80s in July and lows in the 20s in January. There is a chance of rain all year, with the highest probability of rainfall in July. It snows during the winter months, with January seeing the most snowfall. According to First Street, Levittown is one of the cities in Pennsylvania with the worst air quality.
According to FBI Crime Data Reporter, Pennsylvania Crime Reporting and CrimeGrade, Levittown has a generally lower crime rate across the board compared to the rest of the state and the country. In 2023, Levittown reported a violent crime rate that was below the national and statewide rates. Also in 2023, Levittown's reported property crime rate was below the national figure but slightly higher than Pennsylvania's overall rate.
Business Route 1 is a main retail destination near Levittown.
In some shopping centers in Levittown security cameras are used to deter crime.
Bristol Township police is just 1 of 3 townships that patrol the Levittown neighborhoods.
The townships where Levittown presides have salt stored for the winter months.
As a real estate investor and landlord, I am uniquely positioned to provide clients with invaluable insights and guidance. Drawing on my personal experiences, both positive and negative, I am able to offer clients valuable advice on the best course of action for their unique needs. My goal is to empower clients to make informed decisions that align with their business and family needs.
I employ a tailored approach for each property, leveraging a deep understanding of the local market trends, buyer behavior, and property features. Through meticulous market analysis, innovative marketing strategies, and a keen eye for property presentation, I consistently position homes to stand out in the market and attract qualified buyers.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
