Bensalem Makes ‘Best Places to Live’ List

was named one of the 100 Best Places to Live by Money Magazine.

“These terrific small cities offer what American families care about most -- strong job opportunities, great schools, low crime, quality health care, and plenty to do. And they're true communities too,” according to the story. 

Bensalem was ranked 85 on the list. Only two other Pennsylvania communities made the list – Abington (41) and Millcreek (91).

Here’s what the magazine said about Bensalem:

“Best known for M. Night Shyamalan's movie Signs, which was filmed at a local warehouse, Bensalem is also home to the well-known Parx Casino and Racetrack. More kid-friendly activities in this township just 20 minutes from Philadelphia include a skate park and the TD Bank Amphitheater, an outdoor park that hosts concerts every Wednesday night from June to October. --D.M.”

Here’s the statistics the magazine used to rank Bensalem:

Financial

City stats

Best places avg.

Median family income
(per year)

$74,659

$96,825

Family purchasing power
(annual, cost-of-living adjusted)

$71,788

$93,218

State sales tax

6.00%

5.57%

State income tax rate
(highest bracket)

3.07%

7.31%

State income tax rate
(lowest bracket)

3.07%

3.08%

Auto insurance premiums
(Average price quotes, for the state)

$1,468

$1,596

Job growth %
(2000-2011)*

-2.31%

25.01%

See jobs near Bensalem

Housing

Median home price

$223,842

$269,768

Average property taxes
(2011)

$2,645

$6,517

See Bensalem homes for sale

Education

Colleges, universities and
professional schools (within 30 miles)

18

8

Test scores reading
(% above/below state average)

33.8%

28.2%

Test scores math
(% above/below average)

35.5%

29.2%

% students attending public/private
schools (located within town limits)

N.A./N.A.

91.5/8.5

Quality of life

Air quality index*
(% of days AQI ranked as good)

78.4%

77.3%

Personal crime incidents (per 1,000)

2

2

Property crime incidents (per 1,000)

35

20

Median commute time (in minutes)

23.9

22.2

% population with commute
45 mins. or longer

21.8%

14.9%

% population walk or bike to work

2.3%

3.2%

Leisure and culture

Movie theaters
(within 15 miles)

48

33

Restaurants
(within 15 miles)

6,992

3,134

Bars
(within 15 miles)

629

199

Public golf courses
(within 30 miles)

257

169

Libraries
(within 15 miles)

195

70

Museums (accredited by AAM;
within 30 miles)

19

10

Ski resorts (within 100 miles)

11

6

Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts)

1.0

1.4

Weather

Annual rainfall
(inches)

125

34.21

% clear days in the area

26

32

High temp in July ° F

83.6°

86.8°

Low temp in Jan ° F

15.7°

18.4°

Meet the neighbors

Median age

41.3

35.2

Completed at least some college
(% of residents)

50.3%

72.6%

Married %

51.5%

57.9%

Divorced %

9.4%

8.0%

Racial diversity index
(100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity)

101.3

118.4