Trying to decide if Chalfont fits your next home move? If you want small-town character with practical access to regional job centers, this Bucks County borough deserves a close look. In this guide, you’ll get a clear picture of housing options and price signals, schools and taxes, commute choices, and everyday conveniences so you can decide with confidence. Let’s dive in.
Where Chalfont sits on the map
Chalfont is a home-rule borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with a 2020 population of 4,253. The borough covers about 1.6 square miles and anchors the 18914 ZIP code, which also includes nearby township areas. That means some homes with a Chalfont mailing address are actually in adjacent municipalities. Get familiar with the difference because it affects schools, taxes, and services. You can confirm the borough overview and history on the Chalfont page of Wikipedia.
Everyday feel and historic core
Chalfont has a compact Main Street and a National Register historic district near Butler Avenue and North Main Street. You’ll see Victorian and Colonial-era homes, leafy streets, and small local businesses that give the borough a walkable, neighborly feel. Short multi-use paths connect a series of small parks, so a quick walk or bike ride often replaces a short drive. The borough’s character and historic-district details are documented on Wikipedia.
Housing options and price signals
What you’ll find
Close to downtown, you’ll see older single-family homes with period details, narrower lots, and mature trees. In the wider 18914 area, there are mid-century ranches and colonials, classic suburban subdivisions, and newer low-maintenance townhome communities. Recent builder activity has added fresh townhome options at a range of price points. For example, a Toll Brothers community opened in the Chalfont area with services like landscaping and snow removal included, as noted in a press release.
How to read pricing in a small market
You’ll encounter different median price numbers depending on the source and whether it measures the small borough versus the larger 18914 ZIP. Month-to-month volatility is common because the market is relatively small. Broadly, plan for mid–six figure medians across the postal area, with premiums or discounts tied to home style, lot size, and proximity to amenities. For a ZIP-level snapshot that helps smooth short-term swings, review data providers such as Prop-Metrics.
Inventory patterns to expect
Because inventory is thin in a small borough, median sales figures can jump when a few larger or smaller homes close in a given month. As a move-up buyer, expect a mix of older detached homes with renovation potential, established neighborhood colonials and ranches, and new-construction townhomes that appeal to commuters. The recent townhome releases in the area, like the one noted above, are a signal that low-maintenance product is part of the current mix. If you have a specific style or street in mind, patience and preparation matter.
Schools, taxes, and budget planning
School assignments
Chalfont is in the Central Bucks School District (CBSD). Unami Middle School sits in Chalfont, and Butler Elementary has a Chalfont mailing address in the nearby Brittany Farms area. Many addresses here feed into Central Bucks South High School. Assignments vary by exact parcel, so always verify for a specific property using district resources such as the Unami Middle School page.
Property taxes and millage
School district millage is a significant part of your total property-tax bill in this region, and Central Bucks increased millage for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year. Review current rates with local tax-collector pages, like the Doylestown tax collector’s millage information. For a borough-level perspective on effective property-tax rates, data providers such as ATTOM have reported an example effective rate around 1.16 percent for Chalfont. Keep in mind that effective rates vary with assessed value, exemptions, and current millage, so rely on the parcel’s most recent tax bill for true annual costs. You can explore Chalfont’s data view on ATTOM’s Property Navigator.
Commute and connectivity
Regional rail to Philadelphia
Chalfont has a SEPTA Regional Rail stop on the Lansdale/Doylestown Line. The line runs directly to Center City Philadelphia with connections across the regional network. Typical trip times from Chalfont to the Center City stations are in the neighborhood of about an hour, depending on schedule and whether you catch express patterns. Check the latest details on the Chalfont station page and current SEPTA timetables before you commit to a rail commute.
Driving access across the region
US 202 Business, PA 152, the US 202 parkway, and County Line Road give you straightforward connections to Montgomery County job centers and the I-476/PA Turnpike corridors. Travel time varies with traffic and route choice, but plan on roughly 25 to 40 minutes or more to central parts of Philadelphia, and shorter drives to suburban hubs like Fort Washington and King of Prussia. For regional context on the County Line Road corridor, see this overview.
Practical commute tips
If your top priority is a predictable train ride, compare schedules at Chalfont and at larger park-and-ride stations like Lansdale or Fort Washington to see which offers better frequency. If your job is in King of Prussia or other Montgomery County clusters, driving is often faster than rail. No matter your plan, test your route at your typical commute time before you make an offer.
Parks, shops, and weekend life
Outdoor recreation
If you love the outdoors, Peace Valley Park and Lake Galena are a few minutes away in New Britain Township. You’ll find multi-use trails, boating, wildlife viewing, and educational programs through the Peace Valley Nature Center. Within the borough, a short parks trail links Kelly Park, Krupps Park, and Derstine Memorial Park, which makes quick neighborhood walks easy.
Groceries and errands
Day-to-day needs are covered by local businesses and neighborhood centers in and near the borough. For bigger-box retail and multiple supermarket choices, you’re a short drive to New Britain Township, Warrington, or Montgomeryville. As an example, GIANT anchors a shopping area in nearby New Britain, as listed on storeopeninghours.com.
Community life
Chalfont’s scale supports a small-town calendar with community events and an active volunteer fire company. When you want a broader menu of dining, arts, and shopping, Doylestown and New Hope are an easy drive. That mix is part of the appeal here: a quiet borough feel with larger cultural and retail options close by. You can read more about the borough’s identity on Wikipedia.
How Chalfont compares nearby
- Doylestown has a larger downtown with more museums, restaurants, and civic amenities. It often commands a higher median price point, especially near the heart of town.
- New Hope leans tourist and arts oriented and often shows higher per-square-foot pricing in the borough core, driven by its riverfront setting and weekend traffic.
- Yardley, along the Delaware River east of Chalfont, offers a different village feel and a price profile that can be similar or higher depending on neighborhood.
- Warrington, Montgomeryville, and New Britain Township provide more recent subdivisions, larger retail clusters, and quick highway access at similar commute distances.
When you compare prices, use the same geography and data source. Borough medians and ZIP-level medians are not interchangeable, and mixing sources can exaggerate differences.
Buyer checklist for Chalfont
- Confirm the property’s municipality. A Chalfont mailing address can be in a neighboring township. Use ZIP resources like 18914’s profile to understand the broader area, then verify with municipal maps.
- Verify school assignment at the parcel level. Boundaries and feeder patterns can cross postal lines. Start with district resources such as Unami Middle School.
- Request the most recent tax bill and calculate total annual taxes. Consider CBSD millage and any exemptions. See the tax-collector’s millage information and review effective-rate context on ATTOM’s Chalfont page.
- Test your commute during peak times. Check rail schedules for the Chalfont station and drive your preferred route to validate timing.
- For older homes, review lot dimensions and side-yard access. Maintenance and expansion potential depend on site layout and historic-district considerations.
- If you are eyeing new-construction townhomes, confirm HOA fees, included services like landscaping or snow removal, and timelines. See an example of services in the area in this builder announcement.
If you want a small-town setting with train access, everyday convenience, and quick reach to Montgomery County job centers, Chalfont can be a strong fit. The right choice comes down to your commute, budget, and preferred home style, plus how you weigh borough charm against bigger-town amenities nearby. If you would like a tailored look at streets, schools, taxes, and inventory, connect with The Walton-Winn Team for a neighborhood tour and data-backed guidance.
FAQs
What is the difference between Chalfont borough and the 18914 ZIP area?
- The borough is a 1.6-square-mile municipality with its own services and taxes, while the 18914 ZIP covers surrounding township areas too. Always verify the actual municipality for any address because it affects schools, taxes, and services. You can start with the 18914 ZIP overview and then confirm with local maps.
Does Chalfont have train service to Center City Philadelphia?
- Yes. Chalfont station is on SEPTA’s Lansdale/Doylestown Line with direct service into Center City. Typical trip times are around an hour depending on schedule. Check the latest details on the Chalfont station page and current SEPTA timetables.
How are property taxes structured in Chalfont and Central Bucks?
- School district millage is a major part of the total bill, and Central Bucks increased millage for 2025 to 2026. For rate context, see the tax-collector’s millage page and ATTOM’s Chalfont overview. Always use the parcel’s most recent tax bill for an accurate estimate.
What kinds of homes are common in and around Chalfont?
- Near Main Street you’ll see older Victorian and Colonial homes. The wider 18914 area features mid-century ranches and colonials, established subdivisions, and newer townhome communities, including recent builder releases like the one noted in this press announcement.
What are the main commuting routes by car from Chalfont?
- US 202 Business, PA 152, the US 202 parkway, and County Line Road link to Montgomery County and the I-476/PA Turnpike corridors. Drive times vary, but plan on roughly 25 to 40 minutes or more to central Philadelphia depending on traffic, and shorter drives to suburban hubs. See a regional overview of County Line Road here.
