Delaware County is one of only five counties in the entire Mid-Atlantic where a typical homebuyer can still afford a typical home, writes Michaelle Bond for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The median asking price of homes in Delaware County in the last quarter of 2025 was $289,450, and the median household income was about $89,500.
An analysis of 90 counties in six states by multiple listing service Bright MLS showed that most homes are unaffordable for median-income renters trying to buy a starter home.
It’s common knowledge now that housing affordability is a challenge, “but when you see the data so starkly like this, it really brings the point home,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.
In the Mid-Atlantic, median home prices are up 35 percent since 2020.
But in places like Delaware County, there are lower costs of living and older housing stock, Sturtevant said.
Delaware County’s dense housing and smaller homes also keep costs down, said Michael Maerten, a real estate agent on the board of directors for Tri-County Suburban Realtors.
Delco is also being chosen for its culture, pride, and family ties.
“The running joke about Delaware County is people don’t leave,” he said.
Read more about the struggles of first-time homebuyers in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
