Bucks County, Pennsylvania, situated in the southeastern region of the state and bordering Philadelphia, Montgomery, Lehigh, and Northampton counties, is a part of the Delaware Valley. As per the 2020 census, its population stands at approximately 646,000 people.
The county seat and its largest city is Doylestown, with Bucks County deriving its name from the English county of Buckinghamshire, where William Penn resided before founding Pennsylvania.
While Bucks County is renowned for its suburban and rural landscapes, historical and cultural attractions, and proximity to Philadelphia, it grapples with significant disparities in income, poverty, unemployment, and education across its neighborhoods.
Some areas within the county face daunting challenges, such as low income, high poverty rates, elevated unemployment rates, limited educational attainment, and insufficient access to healthcare and social services.
This article delves into five of the most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods within Bucks County, utilizing data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) for the period 2017-2021. We employ the following metrics to gauge poverty levels:
1. Bristol
Bristol, located in southern Bucks County near Croydon and Levittown, constitutes an urban area marked by its diverse population, including Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Despite its population of approximately 9,000 people, Bristol faces significant socioeconomic challenges:
- A median household income of $46,000, which is 51% lower than the county median and the national median.
- A poverty rate of 21%, exceeding three times the county rate and one-and-a-half times the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 9%, surpassing both the county and national rates.
- An educational attainment rate of 80%, indicating that around 80% of the adult population has completed high school or higher education.
Also Read:
2. Morrisville
Morrisville, another borough located in southern Bucks County, near Trenton and Yardley, shares similar characteristics with Bristol:
- A median household income of $49,000, which is 48% lower than the county median and 48% lower than the national median.
- A poverty rate of 19%, exceeding three times the county rate and one-and-a-half times the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 8%, surpassing both the county and national rates.
- An educational attainment rate of 83%, indicating that around 83% of the adult population has completed high school or higher education.
Also Read:
3. Tullytown
Tullytown, situated in southern Bucks County near Levittown and Fairless Hills, represents a suburban area predominantly inhabited by Whites, with some Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Despite its population of about 2,000 people, Tullytown faces significant socioeconomic challenges:
- A median household income of $50,000, which is 47% lower than the county median and 47% lower than the national median.
- A poverty rate of 18%, exceeding three times the county rate and one-and-a-half times the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 7%, surpassing both the county and national rates.
- An educational attainment rate of 84%, indicating that around 84% of the adult population has completed high school or higher education.
Also Read:
4. Croydon
Croydon, a census-designated place located in southern Bucks County near Bristol and Bensalem, constitutes an urban area with a diverse population. Despite its population of about 10,000 people, Croydon grapples with significant socioeconomic challenges:
- A median household income of $51,000, which is 46% lower than the county median and 46% lower than the national median.
- A poverty rate of 17%, exceeding three times the county rate and one-and-a-half times the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 6%, surpassing both the county and national rates.
- An educational attainment rate of 85%, indicating that around 85% of the adult population has completed high school or higher education.
Also Read:
5. Levittown
Levittown, a census-designated place located in southern Bucks County near Tullytown and Fairless Hills, represents a suburban area predominantly inhabited by Whites, with some Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Despite its population of about 52,000 people, Levittown faces significant socioeconomic challenges:
- A median household income of $54,000, which is 42% lower than the county median and 42% lower than the national median.
- A poverty rate of 16%, exceeding three times the county rate and one-and-a-half times the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 6%, surpassing both the county and national rates.
- An educational attainment rate of 86%, indicating that around 86% of the adult population has completed high school or higher education.
Also Read:
Conclusion
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, nestled in the southeastern part of the state within the Delaware Valley, boasts a blend of suburban and rural landscapes, as well as a diverse population encompassing Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Nevertheless, it grapples with glaring disparities in income, poverty, unemployment, and education levels across its various neighborhoods.
These five neighborhoods—Bristol, Morrisville, Tullytown, Croydon, and Levittown—stand out as some of the most economically disadvantaged areas within the county. They confront multiple challenges, including low income, high poverty rates, elevated unemployment rates, limited educational attainment, and insufficient access to healthcare and social services. Addressing these issues necessitates collaborative efforts from various stakeholders to enhance the residents’ quality of life and well-being.