It is to Lambertville’s credit that you can ask half a dozen residents to name their favorite haunts, and find few overlaps. Opinions converge on the Delaware and Raritan Canal path, a portion of which stretches alongside the river all the way to Trenton, 16 miles away, and is enjoyed by cyclists and pedestrians (and their dogs). Multiple mentions are also made of the bar at Anton’s at the Swan restaurant, the Mexican-Peruvian El Tule restaurant, and Lambertville House hotel and restaurant, in a building constructed in 1812 for Captain John Lambert, a member of the city’s namesake family. (This is not to be confused with Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn, in a 19th-century railroad depot.)

Image 86 SOUTH MAIN STREET | A three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom house, built in 1888 on 0.05 acres, listed for $459,900. 215-862-5500 Credit... Steve Legato for The New York Times

Votes are also cast for home-décor shops like Blue Raccoon, cafes like Bucks on the Bridge (and the J.B. Kline vintage music instrument shop above it) and construction-supply stores like the 102-year-old Finkles. Praise is showered on the independent character of Lambertville businesses in general — not even a Starbucks, which is more than New Hope can claim. But one downside to living in a tourist-facing city, residents say, is the shortage of supermarkets.

“You have to go to the Giant in New Hope,” Ms. Peters said. “In Lambertville, there’s the City Market,” which is more of a convenience store. (A Basil Bandwagon Natural Market is slated to arrive soon on North Union Street.)

Lambertville pulls locals and visitors alike to Shad Fest, a two-day festival held during the last week of April, with contributions from musicians, artists and chefs. On Oct. 20, the Lambertville Historical Society will hold its 37th annual house-tour benefit. The city also attracts outsiders to its blowout Halloween celebrations, including a parade scheduled for Oct. 27.

What You’ll Pay

According to Realtor.com, the median sale price of Lambertville homes in August was $451,000, a year-over-year increase of 5.8 percent. Properties remained on the market for a median of 78 days, a decrease of 8.2 percent from the previous year.

Zillow showed a 2.2 percent decline in median home values in Lambertville in the year preceding Aug. 31, and predicted that values will fall an additional 0.9 percent in the next year. Rentals average around $2,300 a month.