How far is New York from the Philadelphia suburbs, Bucks County, and Princeton?

On the 2026 timetables, NJ Transit express trains reach New York Penn Station in about 55 minutes from Princeton Junction and 1 hour 10 minutes from Trenton, about 12 minutes from Yardley. On the Main Line, Amtrak trains from Ardmore and Paoli take about 1 hour 51 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, and Acela from 30th Street as little as 1 hour 14 minutes.

Why work with an agent licensed in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey?

Most New York buyers in this area compare both sides of the Delaware River, for example Yardley with Pennington or New Hope with Lambertville. Karen is licensed in both states, so one agent can show you homes in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, compare taxes and commutes honestly, and handle the purchase on either side without handing you off at the bridge.

Can Karen help if I am still living in New York?

Yes. New York buyers usually start the search from the city. She narrows the map by phone and video first, sends listings that fit, and schedules showings in tight blocks on the days you can come down, so a Saturday covers several towns. Contracts and much of the paperwork can be signed electronically.

Do I pay New York City income tax if I move to Bucks County or Princeton?

No. New York City income tax applies only to city residents. If you keep working in New York, you still owe New York State tax on wages earned there, and Pennsylvania or New Jersey gives you a credit for it. The guide to living in PA or NJ and working in New York explains the details.

Which towns are closest to the train to New York?

West Windsor surrounds the Princeton Junction station, and Princeton connects to it by the Dinky shuttle. On the Pennsylvania side, Yardley, Washington Crossing, and Newtown are about 12 to 21 minutes from the Trenton station by car. Pennington and the Hopewell Valley are about 20 minutes from Trenton, Hamilton, or Princeton Junction.

Relocating from New York City

The commute, in one table

Two rail lines carry New York commuters from this region. NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line serves Bucks County and the Princeton area, and Amtrak's Keystone and Northeast Corridor trains serve the Main Line and Philadelphia. Most buyers choose a town by how often they go to New York and how far it is from one of these stations. Times are the fastest weekday trips on the 2026 timetables.

Station	Fastest trip to New York	Monthly pass (2026)	Towns that use it
Princeton Junction	About 55 min	$549	West Windsor, Princeton, Pennington
Hamilton	About 1 hr	$563	Pennington, Hopewell
Trenton	About 1 hr 10 min	$585	Yardley, Washington Crossing, Newtown, New Hope, Lambertville
Philadelphia 30th Street (Amtrak)	1 hr 14 min on Acela	Amtrak passes; not valid on Acela	Center City, Main Line, Montgomery County
Ardmore (Amtrak)	1 hr 51 min	Amtrak passes	Narberth, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Haverford
Paoli (Amtrak)	2 hr	Amtrak passes	Wayne, Berwyn, Devon, Paoli, Malvern

How Karen helps New York buyers

A shorter list, before you drive down

Karen starts with your commute days, your budget, and the space you want, then narrows the map to the handful of towns that fit, so your first visit is spent on homes rather than on driving around.

Both sides of the river

Licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Karen can show you Yardley and Pennington on the same afternoon, and lay out the property taxes, transfer taxes, and school districts for each so the comparison is fair.

Showings that respect your schedule

Showings are grouped into efficient blocks on the days you can come down, with virtual previews in between so you can rule homes out from the city.

Offers that win in a competitive market

Karen prices each offer against the sales that truly compare and writes clean terms, and keeps your lender, inspector, and attorney on one schedule through settlement.

Towns to start with

The Main Line and Montgomery County

For one or two days a week in New York, with walkable towns and highly ranked schools near Philadelphia.

Narberth, PA Walkable borough, Lower Merion schools, about 6 minutes to Ardmore’s Amtrak station.
Ardmore, PA Suburban Square, Lancaster Avenue, and its own Amtrak and SEPTA station.
Bryn Mawr, PA College town downtown, Lower Merion or Radnor schools.
Wayne, PA Lancaster Avenue downtown, about 12 minutes to Paoli’s Amtrak station.
Ambler, PA Walkable Main Street and SEPTA, at lower prices than the Main Line.
Blue Bell, PA Single-family neighborhoods and Wissahickon schools.

Bucks County and the Princeton area

Closest to NJ Transit's trains, for buyers who go to New York more often.

Yardley, PA Delaware River borough, Pennsbury schools, about 12 minutes to Trenton.
Washington Crossing, PA Historic park, larger lots, Council Rock schools.
New Hope, PA Arts town on the river, with a bus to New York.
Newtown, PA Historic borough, Council Rock schools.
Langhorne, PA Historic borough with more accessible prices.
Holland and Richboro, PA Council Rock suburbs near Tyler State Park.
Princeton, NJ University town, Dinky to Princeton Junction.
West Windsor, NJ Home of Princeton Junction station, WW-P schools.
Pennington and Hopewell, NJ Historic Main Street, farmland, Hopewell Valley schools.
Lambertville, NJ River town across the bridge from New Hope.

Guides for New York buyers

Moving from NYC to the Philadelphia suburbs Start here for the Main Line and Montgomery County.
Moving to the Main Line from New York City Towns, schools, home values, and Amtrak at Ardmore and Paoli.
Commuting to NYC from Philadelphia’s suburbs Amtrak, SEPTA and NJ Transit, and driving, with 2026 fares.
NYC vs. the Philadelphia suburbs: cost of living Home values, rent against a mortgage, and taxes.
Moving from New York City to Bucks County or Princeton Start here: how to choose a town, side by side.
The NYC commute from Bucks County and Princeton Stations, 2026 fares, parking, buses, and driving.
Live in PA or NJ, work in NYC: the taxes Income, property, and transfer taxes compared.
Pennsbury vs. Council Rock School District The two big Lower Bucks districts compared.
Is Yardley, PA a good place to live? The river borough closest to the Trenton station.
Is New Hope, PA a good place to live? Arts, history, and river life.
Is Princeton, NJ a good place to live? Schools, downtown, taxes, and the Dinky.
Is Lambertville, NJ a good place to live? New Jersey’s side of the river towns.

Karen's guides are general information, not tax or legal advice. Fares, schedules, and tax rules change, so confirm the details that matter to you.

More home, within reach of New York.