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The Bustleton section of Northeast Philadelphia is located in the Far Northeast, north of Rhawnhurst and south of Somerton; sitting between Roosevelt Boulevard to the east, the city boundary to the west, Red Lion Road to the north, and Pennypack Park to the south, it is centered at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Bustleton Avenue (PA-532) and is completely included in the 19115 postal zip code. In the early history of the city, Bustleton was known as a rich farming area. Common legend states that the early neighborhood centered on the Bussleton Tavern, a local bar established before the American Revolution. Pennypack Park is part of the Fairmount Park system and was the site of much industry including mills. The area was a trading center and had hotels drawing farmers bringing goods for sale. Bustleton is home to one of the oldest churches in America, Lower Dublin Baptist Church (Dublin township was the original name of the area) now known as Pennepack Baptist. Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the large Roman Catholic parish that served as a mother church for most of the parishes in the Northeast.

In the present day, Bustleton is largely a residential community with major commercial areas on Roosevelt Boulevard, Bustleton Avenue, Grant Avenue, and Red Lion Road. It has minimal industrial presence. The community is home to an increasingly diverse population with many immigrant groups represented; in particular one can see store-fronts, billboards, and newspapers in Russian (especially along Bustleton Avenue) from the many immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Republics referred to as Russian Americans.

Public transportation is provided by several SEPTA bus and regional rail routes, including bus routes 19, 58, 67, and the R3 West Trenton and R8 Fox Chase regional rail lines in nearby communities. Major roads include Welsh Road, Verree Road, Red Lion Road (PA 63), Bustleton Avenue (PA 532), Grant Avenue, Krewstown Road, and the Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1). Bustleton is the unfortunate home to two of the most dangerous intersections in the United States: Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, and Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard. It is bordered on the east by Northeast Philadelphia Airport, a municipal reliever airport that dates to World War II.

The neighborhood is a primarily middle-upper middle class community where many people who live in the city because of city-related jobs choose to reside. Newly constructed single homes are selling for between $350,000 and $500,000. Average existing home values are around $200,000 to $350,000 for single homes and $175,000 to $250,000 for twin homes. There are no row homes in Bustleton, though there are several dozen apartment complexes and condominiums, and a significant number of the homes are side-by-side duplexes, often referred to by locals as "twins".

Major crime is rare, but has increased in recent years.

Children generally go to public or parochial school, though some go to private schools. The primary elementary schools are Joseph J. Greenberg Elementary, which is K-8, and Anne Frank Elementary, which is K-5. Most children that attend Anne Frank then attend C.C.A. Baldi Middle School, which is 6-8. The primary public high school, George Washington High School, is located on Bustleton Avenue, just north of the northernmost boundary of Red Lion Road. Area residents may also attend public magnet schools located throughout the city. There are no Roman Catholic parochial high schools in Bustleton, but many students go to Archbishop Ryan High School (co-ed), Father Judge High School (all boys), or Bishop McDevitt High School (co-ed) along with a variety of academies or prep schools (both charter, private, and parochial) both within Bustleton and in the larger metropolitan area. There are no colleges or universities in the neighborhood.

The Greater Bustleton Civic League, originally an alliance of the major local churches but now a neighborhood organization dealing primarily with zoning issues, has served the area for more than sixty years. Youth sports are organized by the Bustleton Bengals which has its home field at Hayes Playground, named for a slain Philadelphia police officer who was an area resident. There is, apparently, a town watch, but it rarely (or never) meets and does not have much influence.

• RussianPhilly.com - Web Portal of Russian Community of Philadelphia (Russian)
• Complete List of Russian Businesses in Philadelphia Bustleton area and beyond
• Russian Community in Philadelphia Bustleton (Russian)
• Bustleton Bengals Club
• Greater Bustleton Civic League
• Wildinout.com - Events & Promotions in Philadelphia Bustleton area

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