Living in New Hope, PA: My Guide to the River Town
Updated October 2026 · By Nick Rau, President of Sales, Rarity Real Estate Team
New Hope is where Bucks County comes to celebrate. It's a small borough, 2,612 residents at the 2020 Census, on the west bank of the Delaware River, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, with the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge carrying cars and walkers straight across to Lambertville, New Jersey (Wikipedia). If you want to live somewhere that feels like a weekend every weekend, this is it.
Photo: David Wilson / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Zeete / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dough4872 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Borough and Solebury: what "New Hope" covers
The borough itself is just 1.4 square miles (same source). Around it is Solebury Township, which shares the New Hope schools (same source). Buyers looking for a walkable village usually focus on the borough, while buyers looking for land, privacy and stone farmhouses usually end up in Solebury, so I always confirm which municipality a house is in before we talk taxes.
A town with history around every corner
New Hope sits on the old York Road, once the main highway between Philadelphia and New York, and was known as Wells' Ferry and then Coryell's Ferry before taking its name from Benjamin Parry's rebuilt New Hope Mills after a 1790 fire. George Washington lodged here the night before his crossing of the Delaware (Wikipedia).
The vibe
The Bucks County Playhouse, set in a former mill beside Aquetong Creek's millpond and waterfall, anchors the arts scene (same source). The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad runs scenic excursion trains out of the historic New Hope station toward Lahaska (same source).
Photo: Smallbones / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
When friends visit, I send them to a few places. Fran's Pub at 116 South Main Street has been family-run since 1978, with a four-sided patio bar and live bands (Fran's Pub). Martine's RiverHouse on East Ferry Street has been a New Hope staple for about 40 years (Martine's), and The Salt House across the street serves seasonal, elevated pub fare in a 1751 stone building (The Salt House). Both were part of the 2026 New Hope & Lambertville Restaurant Week (Greater New Hope Chamber). For dessert, Nina's Waffles & Ice Cream has a shop at 110 South Main Street and another at Peddler's Village (Nina's).
Schools: New Hope-Solebury
New Hope and neighboring Solebury Township are served by the New Hope-Solebury School District; the two districts were combined in 1957 (Wikipedia). Always confirm the assigned school for a specific address with the district.
Getting around
New Hope doesn't have SEPTA train service; passenger service to Philadelphia ended in 1952, and today the rail line carries the New Hope & Ivyland's tourist trains (Wikipedia). Most residents drive. Trans-Bridge Lines runs bus service to New York's Port Authority from a stop in neighboring Solebury (same source), which is a big plus for anyone who works in the city a few days a week.
The New Hope market right now
New Hope is a luxury, seasonal market, and right now that's great news for buyers: there's real choice, room to negotiate and time to find the right river or countryside home. Sellers who price with the market and present beautifully still do very well, with Q3's median topping $1 million.
I pulled these numbers from Bright MLS on October 13, 2026, for residential closed sales in New Hope Borough and Solebury Township by close date. Over the last 12 months (October 2025 through September 2026), 182 homes sold at a median of $970,500 and an average of $1,451,206, with 35 days on market (a period total from Bright's Market Statistics Report) and a sold-to-original-list ratio of 94.84%. Q3 2026 alone brought 52 sales at a $1,080,000 median and 93.37% of original list. As of October 2026 there were 72 active listings.
Metric | Last 12 months (Oct 2025–Sep 2026) | Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep) |
|---|---|---|
Closed sales | 182 | 52 |
Median sold price | $970,500 | $1,080,000 |
Sold / original list price | 94.84% | 93.37% |
Active inventory (Oct 2026) | 72 | 72 |
Source: Bright MLS, New Hope Borough and Solebury Township, Residential, closed by close date, pulled Oct 13, 2026; information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Moving up in New Hope
Most of my clients aren't first-time buyers; they're families selling one home and buying the next at the same time. My job is to run both sides on one calendar: pricing your current home, getting your financing options (a sale-contingent offer, a bridge loan or HELOC, or a rent-back) lined up before you list, and timing the closings so you only move once.
What clients say
Sharon Ferraiolo: "Making the decision to move after living in our home for over 35 years was the hardest decision to make. We chose to work with Nick as we knew him and heard great things regarding his expertise in the real estate field. Nick was so confident that our house would sell quickly and felt we would receive multiple offers. Well, he was right."
Stephen LePera: "An ultimate professional who had every base covered. Our sell/buy scenario was a little unique and Nick’s patience and attention to detail got us through. I wholeheartedly recommend his services."
Reviews from Google.
I'm Nick Rau, President of Sales with the Rarity Real Estate Team, ranked in the Top 1% of agents nationally (RealTrends 2025, individual), with more than 135 Google reviews, and I'd love to help you make your move to (or within) New Hope.
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Contact Nick
Nick Rau, Rarity Real Estate Team 1100 N Delaware Ave Suite A, Philadelphia, PA 19125 Phone: (215) 593-7498 Email: [email protected]
Latest from New Hope
More local news on the Bucks Co. & Beyond Daily blog.
New Hope FAQ
Is New Hope, PA a good place to live?
Yes, especially if you love the arts, the river and a lively main street. It's a small borough on the Delaware, across the bridge from Lambertville, NJ.
What school district serves New Hope?
New Hope-Solebury School District, which serves New Hope Borough and Solebury Township.
Is there a train from New Hope to Philadelphia?
No SEPTA service. The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad runs scenic excursion trains; commuters drive, and Trans-Bridge Lines buses run to New York from neighboring Solebury.
What's the median home price in New Hope?
Over the last 12 months (Oct 2025–Sep 2026), the median sold price in New Hope Borough and Solebury Township was $970,500; in Q3 2026 it was $1,080,000 (Bright MLS, pulled Oct 13, 2026).
Is New Hope a buyer's or seller's market?
It's a luxury, seasonal market with more choice for buyers: 72 active listings in October 2026, with homes selling at 94.84% of original list over 12 months (Bright MLS, pulled Oct 13, 2026).
Can I sell my current home and buy in New Hope at the same time?
Yes. Options include a sale-contingent offer, a bridge loan or HELOC, or a rent-back; I coordinate both closings on one timeline.