Bensalem, PA? (Levittown, Horsham, Doylestown: relocate, property taxes, apartments)

[Orleron]

Anyone know about this place?

Is it a decent neighborhood if you're living in a development with 400K+ houses? Are the property taxes bad there? What are the schools like? How's the traffic, etc.?

[twinmma]

Personally, I hated living there...I only lived there one year before we moved to Newtown, about a half an hour away.
I found it a little...tired is the nice word to say. The houses are older and I just didn't feel all that safe there. Not that it is a "bad" area but it isn't the best. Traffic depends on where you are going. I didn't think it was bad to go to Newtown, but I did think it was bad to go to NorthEast Philly.
For $400K I think you could find a little better area...As I said Newtown is nice but that price will get you a townhome. Doylestown is nice...Parts of Langhore and Holland are nice.
Good luck. There are some decent parts to Bensalem...I just didn't like it much there.

[malkitty23]

I just found out I have to relocate to the Bensalem area (from FL) in 3 weeks and don't know the area at all. I'm a single woman, late '30s, w/ 2 cats. I'm looking for a short-term lease on an apt. so, if I hate it, I'll have the option to move to another nearby area once I get my bearings.

But I'll be working in Bensalem and would like a very short commute (30 min or less) at least until I get to know the roads & highways.

Any advice on apartments in or very close to Bensalem that would be safe & not run-down–even just for 3 months or so?

From what I'm reading, if you don't know the right & wrong areas, it can be pretty "iffy."

Thanks to any & all replies!!!!

[malkitty23]

p.s. Forgot to mention: my price range for a short-term apt. would be anywhere between $800-$1000 a month (1B/1B).


Thanks!!!

[twinmma]

You could try Korman suites. It is in Bensalem. That is where we lived for the year we lived there. It is okay. The rent back then was $800 for a one bedroom with a den. That was in 2000.
Good luck. Oh, and for permanent living, I would look into Newtown, parts of Langhorne...these are not far from Bensalem.

[andreaspercheron]

I don't live in Bensalem but have friends that do and have been to visit at their places many times. From my perspective (and for the record I live in Horsham). Just knowing that I have to drive to Bensalem (the area just off of the turnpike) drives me nuts. it's dirty, congested and the roads are more horrible than everywhere else in PA. I don't know enough about Bensalem to properly give advice but there are definitely areas you want to stay away from, many of them. I'm sure there are nice areas too, I just haven't found them.

[StuckPA]

Yea Bensalem/Lower Bucks County isn't the best place around,kinda trashy is right.

[Pilot1]

Like many of the closer, older suburbs in all the surrounding counties Bensalem is a little rough around the edges. You can go to similar places in Delco, Montco, or Bucks. Move out a bit more and it gets nicer and also more $$$.

[bryson662001]

There is already a thread on Bensalem.....look on page 2.

Basicly it is a very large township with some of everything.....parts of it are very nice and others not so good..... although nothing very bad either.

[malkitty23]

Thanks to everyone for your input & help!

I'd read the other Bensalem threads, but those seemed more directed at people looking to buy homes (not rent short-term). I've got a hold on an apt. in Langhorne and am spending all day today trying to find some "backups" in Langhorne, Levittown & Yardley in case 1st apt. falls through. I'd read too much here about living in Bensalen to rent there, sight unseen.

I only have until Aug. 1st (2 weeks) to find a place & move up there so it's gonna be a "hail Mary," but if I get 3-6 month lease...I can survive anything that long.

Sounds like Langhorne & Yardley will be safer, though.
I hope it works out!!! Never had to move this quickly before...from 6 states away!

Thanks again to all!!!! I really appreciate it!

Looking forward to being in PA!