Washington Crossing at a glance
Washington Crossing is a village in Upper Makefield Township, a township of about 8,900 people, according to the 2020 Census, along the Delaware River between Yardley and New Hope. It is where George Washington crossed the icy Delaware on December 25, 1776, and the township has preserved more than 38 percent of its land, about 5,000 acres. The result is a quiet, open setting with larger properties, about 17 minutes from Trenton’s NJ Transit station. In ZIP 18977, Zillow’s typical single-family home value was about $888,000 in September 2026.
Schools
Upper Makefield is in the Council Rock School District, which also serves Newtown, Northampton, and Wrightstown townships, with about 10,400 students. U.S. News ranked Council Rock High School North 30th and Council Rock High School South 73rd in Pennsylvania in its 2026-27 list. Part of the 18977 ZIP is in Lower Makefield and the Pennsbury School District, so confirm the district for each address. The Council Rock School District page has more.
Daily life
- Washington Crossing Historic Park: about 500 acres along the river, a National Historic Landmark now managed by the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The park includes Bowman’s Hill Tower, the Thompson-Neely Homestead, and the visitor center, and hosts the Christmas Day crossing reenactment each year.
- Preserved land: voters have approved three open space referendums since 1996, totaling about $31 million.
- The river: the Delaware Canal towpath runs along the river, and Washington Crossing State Park is across the bridge in New Jersey.
- Nearby towns: Yardley’s borough center is about 8 minutes away, with New Hope upriver and Newtown inland.
Homes and prices
Upper Makefield’s housing is mostly single-family homes on larger lots, with a median year built of 1986 and an owner-occupancy rate of about 95 percent, according to the Census. In ZIP 18977, Zillow’s typical single-family home value was about $888,000 in September 2026, up about 7 percent over the year. Across all home types, the least expensive third of homes was valued at about $658,000 and the most expensive third at about $1.12 million.
Getting around
- To New York: NJ Transit’s Trenton station is about 17 minutes away and Princeton Junction about 28 minutes, without traffic. Express trains reach New York Penn Station in about 1 hour 10 minutes from Trenton.
- To Philadelphia: SEPTA’s Yardley station is about 8 minutes away; by car, Center City is about 49 minutes.
- To Princeton: about 28 minutes by car.
Things to know before you buy
- Taxes: Upper Makefield’s 2026 township rate is 6.45 mills, unchanged. The Council Rock rate is 149.9692 mills for 2026-27, up 3.5 percent, and Bucks County’s is 29.65 mills. The earned income tax is 1 percent.
- Wells and septic: there is no public water in the township, and most homes rely on on-lot septic systems, so plan those inspections.
- Creeks as well as the river: on July 15, 2023, a flash flood on Houghs Creek swept vehicles off Washington Crossing Road and took seven lives. Check flood zones and drainage for homes near streams, not only near the Delaware.
- Resale: the township lists a residential disclosure statement and zoning use and occupancy forms; confirm current resale requirements with Planning and Zoning.
Working with Karen in Washington Crossing
Karen Langsfeld helps buyers weigh Washington Crossing’s land and quiet against Yardley’s walkable borough or Newtown’s town center, and, as a New Jersey licensee too, against the Hopewell Valley across the river. She helps sellers prepare well, septic, and disclosure records early and price against the sales that truly compare.
Reach Karen directly at (215) 495-2914 or through the contact page.