Money magazine names Levittown on ‘best places to live’ list

Money magazine recently ranked Levittown 41 out of the top 50 best areas to live across the country.

With a population of 51,942, and a median home price of $184,900, the town is deemed both affordable and family-friendly.

Located in Bucks County, Levittown, a “planned community that dates back to 1952,” is a Philadelphia suburb, where the median household income is $76,747, and the town has one of the lowest foreclosure rates in the top 50 list. The property tax is $4,193, and the unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, falling below the commonwealth’s average of 5.3 percent. The average commute time is only 24 minutes.

“What Levittown lacks in history it makes up for with affordable homes, outdoor spaces, good schools and humane commutes,” Money magazine reported. The Bristol Township School District is known for its’ stellar academics, as well as “unique” extracurricular activities, such as a multi-school squad of drummers or dancers, according to the report.

Outside of academia, residents are close to running trails, biking paths and a wildflower preserve, covering more than 700 acres, the report said. Locals can also visit history at Peddler’s Village, apple pick at Shady Brook Farm and check out Sesame Place, a Sesame Street-themed amusement park.

To determine the top 50, Money magazine analyzed 60 factors, including taxes, education and health care. Levittown was the only Pennsylvania city to make the list in 2016. This year, Columbia, Maryland, also a planned community, nabbed first place. Following Columbia, Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Plano, Texas; West Des Moines, Iowa and Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey rounded out the top five best places to live.