Living in New Hope: A Neighborhood Guide
This town on the way to New York has become a destination of its own thanks to its artsy reputation and welcoming attitude.
The historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope / Photograph by Claudia Gavin
Hope springs eternal
Originally a ferry landing on the road from Philly to New York, New Hope got its name from the gristmill Benjamin Parry built after a 1790 fire destroyed his first one. That mill became the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street) in 1939, further cementing New Hope’s reputation as an artists’ community. Today, the compact borough on the Delaware attracts anyone who prizes an anything-goes cultural vibe with easy access to nature and outdoor activities. You can get a feel for the town’s history at Parry’s circa-1784 house, now a museum (45 South Main Street).
Milling about
Main Street buzzes with activity. Stalwarts John & Peter’s Place (96 South Main Street) and Havana (105 South Main Street) anchor a dense collection of restaurants, bars and clubs. The shops, on Main Street and beyond, offer an eclectic lineup of items for you and your home, including African art (African Masks Plus, 9 North Main Street), custom leather goods (Fred Eisen Leather & Art Knives, 85 South Main Street), and high fashion (Savioni Designer Boutique, 6 West Bridge Street). Visit more shops, galleries and eateries across the river in Lambertville and a few miles down Route 202 at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska.
From condos to mansions
New Hope offers a variety of housing options,” says agent Carol McCann, of RE/MAX Millennium. “You can find everything from new-construction homes that sell as high as $7 million to smaller, more affordable homes of around 1,600 square feet in the $500,000 range.” And if you want to spend less — or more — you can, on inexpensive condos in New Hope’s Village 2 or palatial estates in the surrounding towns on both sides of the Delaware.
What You Can Buy in New Hope For …
$2.75M
Photograph by Larry Peseski
20 South Main Street (rear). You can “live over the store” in high style in this riverside contemporary with ground-floor retail just south of the New Hope-Lambertville bridge. 2 BR, 2 BA, 2,700 sq. ft. Larry Peseski, Coldwell Banker Commercial, 215-630-5551.
$997K
Photograph by Kevin Crawford
4 West Mechanic Street. The Vansant House, the oldest stone house in the borough, dates to 1743 and has both residential and commercial potential. 2 BR, 2 BA, 1,728 sq. ft. Jay Spaziano, Jay Spaziano Real Estate, 215-493-1220.
$440K
Photograph by Andrew Reiter
40 Tahoe Drive. This bi-level contemporary in Village 2 gives you resort-style amenities just beyond the center of town. 2 BR, 2 BA, 1,564 sq. ft. Mary Callanan, Realty ONE Group Supreme, 215-622-5157.
Published as “Living in New Hope” in the December 2023/January 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
