Bustleton

Located in the Far Northeast, Bustleton is a quiet, family-friendly, residential neighborhood. The majority of the homes are single-family or twin, although there are apartment complexes, duplexes and condominiums in the area. The population is made up primarily of white, middle-class professionals and families, with a large portion that commute into Center City or the surrounding suburbs.

Four public schools, operated by the School District of Philadelphia, are in Bustleton. Pennypack Park and Fox Chase Farm lay to the south of the area, making for abundant green space and outdoor activities. Additionally, there are numerous family medical practices and mom-and-pop shops, but if you are seeking larger, commercial areas, Roosevelt Boulevard, Bustleton Avenue and Red Lion Road are all nearby. These major highways feature large department stores and grocery stores, like Ross and Shop-Rite. Unfortunately, the heavy traffic on these roads has been a cause for many car accidents.

Public transportation is sparse, so most residents have at least one car. There are a few SEPTA buses that service the area, and for those who would prefer commute via train, the SEPTA Regional Rail West Trenton Line and Fox Chase Line run through neighboring communities like Fox Chase and Somerton. Overall, this small Philadelphia subset is a great option for city workers who want a quieter home life for themselves and their families, and don’t mind a commute into the city.

Bustleton used to be known as a rich farming area. In the twentieth century, however, the area became a largely residential community, with commercial areas on Roosevelt Boulevard, Grant Avenue, Red Lion Road, and Bustleton Avenue.

The neighborhood is racially and ethnically diverse with many groups represented, in particular Russian. You can tell this by storefronts, billboards and newspapers with Russian subtext.

As far as transportation in the area, you have a couple of options. If you would be using public transportation SEPTA offers bus routes 19, 58, 67 and regional rail West Trenton Line and Fox Case Line. If you drive a few major roadways in the area would be Red Lion Road (PA 63), Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 1) and Bustleton Avenue (PA 532).

A tidbit about traffic in the area. Bustleton is home to two of the most dangerous intersections in the United States; Roosevelt Blvd. at Grant Avenue and at Red Lion Road. Due to the large number of accidents, these intersections were the first in Philadelphia to have traffic cameras installed that photograph the license plate if you run a red light. So, safe driving out there.

The homes in Bustleton tend to be single-family houses with a few twin homes here and there. There are also apartment and condominium complexes in the vicinity. Some blocks feature side by side duplexes. Houses range up to 450,000 with 150,000 being the median.

For families with children, Bustleton has 4 public schools in the neighborhood operated by the School district of Philadelphia. There are 5 parochial schools in the area as well.

The neighborhood is home to the Bustleton Bengals Club at Hayes Playground. They offer athletic training to girls and boys which include baseball, softball, tee ball, football, cheerleading, soccer, hockey and basketball. Children can start as young as 4 years of age.

Nightlife isn't spectacular with only a few pubs, bars and pool halls. There is a nightclub in the area but it caters to a really young crowd and is only open Thursdays and Fridays.

Bustleton may no longer be a rich farming area but it still has the subtle serenity of the countryside. The location may make it hard to believe that there is a means for peace and quiet, but once you visit you will notice the calm that settles over the neighborhood, especially at night.

This area is honestly the best in Philadelphia, I don't know how others could rate it so low. I've lived here for about seven years now and it's great. There's a park area in there (part of pennypack) and two of the best elementary/middle schools, Baldi & Greenburg. Both schools offer a great education and they also get a lot of equipment that most schools don't. I went to Greenburg myself and comparing it with Wilson middle school on Cottman, this one is amazing. The kids are actually worried about grades instead of buying drugs. Also, there's a movie theater on Grant Plaza smack dab in the middle of this area. It's nice because most people go to other theaters in the malls so it's never too packed. Also, there's a bunch of restaurants on the same plaza. On Krewstown plaza, there's more restaurants that are worth checking out along with some interesting clothing stores. The houses in this area are a little pricier, but if you can afford it, go for it! The schools are a big plus if you've got kids and the same with parks for kids.

Once a rich farmland area, Bustleton is now a middle class residential neighborhood. Bustleton is located in the Northeast near Fox Chase; the property value in this area has been increasing steadily. One of the draws is the school in the area as there are several that service the neighborhood including prep schools and charter schools.

Another Bustleton attraction is the Lower Dubli Baptist Church, also known as Pennypack Baptist. It is one of the oldest churches in the United States. It is also near Pennypack Park which is another tourist attraction.
The predominantly white neighborhood is also the location of two of the most dangerous intersection in the United States. Roosevelt Boulevard at Grant Avenue and Red Lion Road is known to have a very large number of accidents, so much that it became the first intersection to have camera installed to record vehicles running red lights.

If that scares you away from driving in Bustleton you can always take public transportation. There are several bus routes that service the area as well West Trenton and Fox Chase rail lines.
Overall, Bustleton is a pretty nice, safe neighborhood it’s just not as diverse as the rest of the city and it’s a little on the expensive side.

Bustleton is located in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia and is situated between Roosevelt Boulevard to the east, Red Lion Road/PA-63 to the north and Pennypack Park to the South. It is completely included in the 19115 zip code.

It is a largely residential community with many single and double-family homes. The major commercial sections of Bustleton can be found on Bustleton Avenue, Roosevelt Boulevard, Grant Avenue and Red Lion Road. It is home to a diverse racial and ethnic population with many immigrant groups represented including people from Russia and the Ukraine.

According to the 2000 US Census, Bustleton has a population of 31,853. Many of the houses in the neighborhood are priced between $350,000 and $500,000. Bustleton does not have any row homes though there are several different apartment complexes and condominiums available.

Bustleton is home to some of the best schools in the city including Anne Frank Elementary, Joseph J. Greenberg Elementary and C.C.A. Baldi Middle School. It is a great place to live if you have young children or want to start building a family.

Bustleton is an extremely safe neighborhood with a very tight knit community. It also offers some great social organizations including The Greater Bustleton Civic League.