House prices in Levittown communities around the US. How does Bucks County's compare?
Since a Levittown house listed near $700,000 three weeks ago, some news: the price was cut by $25k and is now listing for $675,000. Still a hefty price tag for a place aimed for first-time, middle-class homebuyers.
But even at $675k, it’s a milestone. No Levitt-built house has sold for that price in “the most perfectly planned community in America,” as its builder called it in the 1950s. Is it the end of affordable starter homes in a place conceived for the first-time homebuyer?
We wondered: what about the other Levittowns of the same era? There are two Levittowns within driving distance of Bucks County, in New Jersey and in New York. Levittown, Puerto Rico is a plane ride away, then a half-hour drive from Old San Juan.
Here’s what we found, based on current Zillow listings.
Levittown, Pennsylvania
Built: 1952-1957
Houses: 17,311
Original price: From $8,990 to $17,500.
The current highest price is 24 Rose Apple Road in the Red Rose Gate section, listed for $675,000. That buys you 2,500 square feet with 5 beds and 3 baths. But the bulk of Levitt-built homes in Bucks County are about half that. Of the 37 houses listed on Zillow, the next highest is $489,900 at 58 Kingwood Road, a refurbished Jubilee in the Kenwood section. The lowest price listed is $299,900 on Catalpa Lane, in Crabtree Hollow, a yellow-sided Rancher in need of some TLC.
Recently in Ltown Levittown house lists for $700,000. When will we see the first $1 million house?
Levittown, New York
Built: 1947-1951
Houses: 17,447
Original price: $6,990.
You better have big bucks to afford Levittown, New York. The current high listing on Zillow is $1.39 million at 89 Cornflower Road. That gets you 3,200 square feet, 5 beds and 4 baths. Estimated monthly mortgage is $10,324 for 30 years. It’s one of several Levitt-built houses over $1 million, the other on Ranch Lane for $1.19 million. The estimated monthly mortgage for 30 years is listed as $9,658. The lowest price is $479,000 (4 beds, 2 baths) on Clover Lane. The typical price range for a house in this Levittown is between $500,000 and $850,000.
Willingboro, New Jersey
Built: 1959-1963
Houses: About 12,000
Original price: From $11,490 to $13,990.
This was the third Levittown, but the name was changed to its original Willingboro in a 1963 voter referendum. There are 32 houses listed for sale on Zillow in Willingboro. The highest price is $499,900 for a rancher at 50 Tidewater Road. That's about 3,000 square feet with 5 beds and 3 baths and a 30-year mortgage that'll be $4,078 a month. Lowest price is $300,000 for a Cape Cod at 5 Melville Lane.
Levittown, Puerto Rico
Built: 1962-1965
Houses: 11,701
Original Price: n/a
This was the fourth and final Levittown, and legend has it builder William Levitt arranged the purchase of the land in Toa Baja (Levittown’s native Taino name) at a bar in San Juan. Like the other Levittowns, it was built for working people, and that’s who still lives there – cops, firefighters, electricians, nurses, teachers. Zillow lists just one house for sale, $195,000 on Calle Mirella. That gets you 1,400 square feet, 5 beds and 3 baths in the “Levittown Lagos” section, or “Levittown Lakes.” These were slightly larger houses with two baths, when originally constructed. Levittown, Puerto Rico's slogan was, “Where the good life begins.” So does an affordable mortgage, which is about $1,145 a month.
JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@couriertimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Levittown communities built for affordability get big bucks in 2023
