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If you are house hunting in Delaware County, this guide walks you through the boroughs, prices, schools, and transit that shape daily life in Media. It is built for buyers who want real numbers, not vague opinions, and it covers what local realtors in Media PA get asked most often. You will also find notes on the Media townhouse for sale market, since that home type moves fast here.
Home value index: Zillow's home value index puts the typical Media home at $562,000 as of mid-2026, up 4.8% year over year. This is a broader index across a wide set of properties, not a median of recent closed sales.
Median sale price: Redfin puts the median sale price at $542,000 over the three months ending June 2026, up 11.8% year over year this is the figure that reflects what homes are actually closing at.
Property tax rates: combining Delaware County, Media Borough, and Rose Tree Media School District millage, the effective rate works out to roughly 1.2% of a home's market value, not assessed value.
Cost of living: housing costs run above the Pennsylvania average, but the Media's walkable core cuts down on transportation spending.
HOA fees: most single-family homes in the borough have no HOA, while newer townhouse communities often run $150 to $350 a month.
Best neighborhoods: downtown Media, the Rose Tree area, and the quieter streets near Glen Providence Park each offer a different pace of life.
Media keeps drawing buyers who want a small town feel without giving up city access. The borough sits about thirty minutes from Center City Philadelphia by car, with SEPTA trolley and Regional Rail options for commuters who would rather not drive, and it packs restaurants, shops, and parks into a walkable downtown. Buyers moving from rowhome neighborhoods often say Media feels like a step up in space without a huge jump in commute time. The Meghan Chorin Team works with many of these buyers, from first time owners to families trading up.
Sale prices tell part of the story. Homes here have posted double digit price growth over the past year, and multiple offer situations remain common on well priced listings. That kind of demand usually means buyers need a clear plan before they start touring.
Media Borough covers less than a square mile. Even so, the housing stock still varies block by block. Near State Street, you will find brick twins and Victorian style homes built close to the sidewalk. A few blocks out, streets open up into larger single family lots with more yard space. Newer construction, including townhouse developments, tends to sit on the edges of the borough or in adjoining Middletown and Upper Providence townships.
For a closer look at what is available block by block, our Media neighborhood guide breaks down pricing and home styles by area. Buyers searching for a Media townhouse for sale usually find that newer builds carry HOA dues covering landscaping and shared spaces. Older borough homes rarely charge an HOA at all.
The Media market has stayed competitive through 2026. Homes sold over the past few months carried a median price near $542,000. That is up close to 12 percent from the same period last year, and the median price per square foot has climbed too. Well maintained listings often go under contract within three to six weeks, and it is common for a home to draw four or more offers.
Inventory stays tight most of the year, which keeps pricing power with sellers on move-in ready homes. Buyers who need financing contingencies or extra time should lean on an agent who can build a competitive offer without overpaying.
Budget shapes what you can expect to find. Under $500,000, buyers typically see smaller twins, older ranch homes outside the borough core, and some condos. Between $500,000 and $750,000, single family homes with updated kitchens and larger lots become realistic, along with newer townhouses this band also covers the borough's current median sale price, so it is where most buyers should expect to compete. Above $750,000, expect larger lots, more square footage, and homes closer to downtown State Street.
Because pricing moves fast here, it helps to get a written estimate of what a specific budget buys before you start touring. That keeps expectations grounded and speeds up decisions once the right listing appears.
Borough homes suit buyers who want to walk to dinner and skip a long commute. Lot sizes run small, parking can be tight, and many homes date back to the early 1900s, so budget for updates to wiring, plumbing, or roofing. Larger properties in the surrounding townships trade some walkability for bigger yards, attached garages, and newer mechanical systems.
Townhouses split the difference. A Media townhouse for sale often includes modern finishes and lower maintenance, which appeals to buyers who want borough access without taking on an older home's repair list.
Property owners in Media pay three separate tax bills: Delaware County, Media Borough, and Rose Tree Media School District. For 2026, the county levies 4.609 mills, the borough levies 2.000 mills, and Rose Tree Media School District levies 15.9417 mills, for a combined 22.5507 mills. Because Delaware County currently assesses at roughly 55% of market value rather than 100% of it, that combined millage works out to an effective rate of approximately 1.2% of a home's market value not its assessed value or about $6,680 a year on a $542,000 home. Millage changes annually for each taxing body, so treat this as a current estimate rather than a fixed number.
Delaware County reassessed all real estate for the 2021 tax year, following a 2017 court order, and it was the county's first countywide reassessment in more than twenty years. Assessments are set at 100% of that 2020 base-year value, rather than a fraction of it. Because prices have risen since 2020, the state's Common Level Ratio factor for Delaware County, which converts assessed value back into current market value, has moved from 1.00 immediately after the reassessment to 1.83 as of July 2026 meaning assessed values now sit at roughly 55% of current market value. For context, adjacent Chester County still works from a 1996 base year, so two neighboring counties sit in very different positions: one reassessed for 2021, the other not reassessed in roughly three decades. Property owners can appeal their assessment; the window for the 2027 tax year closes August 1, 2026, and the next appeal period opens for the 2028 tax year.
Buyers should also know that Pennsylvania school districts, not just property owners, have the right to appeal an assessment. Rose Tree Media can and does appeal a property's assessment after a sale if the sale price suggests the home is under-assessed, and Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court has upheld that right. That means the tax figure on a listing is not necessarily what a buyer will end up paying.
Buyers should also budget for Pennsylvania's transfer tax. On a typical Media sale, the total runs about 2% of the sale price: 1% to the state, 0.5% to Media Borough, and 0.5% to Rose Tree Media School District. On the borough's roughly $542,000 median sale price, that is about $10,840 total, customarily split evenly between buyer and seller. Ask your lender for a full closing cost estimate early, since it affects how much cash you need on hand.
Media's downtown holds dozens of restaurants and shops within a compact grid. The borough is genuinely walkable day to day. The SEPTA Route 101 trolley runs street level along State Street, connecting Media to the 69th Street Transit Center in about half an hour; from there, a transfer to the Market-Frankford Line adds meaningfully to a trip into Center City, so plan on closer to an hour door to door on that route. Media Station, on the Media/Wawa Regional Rail Line, is generally the faster option into Center City and adds another commuting choice for residents heading into Philadelphia.
A current look at fares is worth factoring into a commute decision. The trolley runs $2.90 a ride on a SEPTA Key card or contactless payment, with free transfers onto the Market-Frankford Line at 69th Street. Media Station sits in Regional Rail Zone 3, so a one-way trip into Center City is about $7.75 on SEPTA Key or contactless payment, or $10.00 if paid on board.
SEPTA went through a serious funding crisis in 2025: a 45% service cut and a 21.5% fare increase were approved that June, cuts were implemented in August, a court injunction followed at the end of that month, and full service was restored by mid-September once the state permitted capital funds to be used for operating costs. Service is running normally today, but the 2025 fare increase remains in effect, and the state's underlying transit funding picture is still unresolved. Buyers factoring the trolley or Regional Rail into their commute should confirm current fares and schedules directly with SEPTA before budgeting.
Daily errands rarely require a car once you are settled downtown. That convenience is part of why buyers pay a premium for homes within walking distance of State Street compared with similar homes a mile out.
Main Line towns tend to trade on larger lots and quieter streets. Media leans into a different role instead, as the Delaware County seat, with a courthouse, a busy downtown, and a trolley running through the middle of town. Homes throughout Media's neighborhoods sit closer together than Main Line properties. That layout keeps prices more approachable while still delivering strong schools and easy transit.
Buyers who want walkable urban energy in a small package usually prefer Media. Buyers who want more land and privacy often look further out along the Main Line corridor instead. Wallingford, about eight minutes away in the same county, is also worth a look for buyers drawn to Media's schools and transit but weighing a quieter, more established feel. Our Wallingford PA home prices guide covers that market in the same depth. One difference to know going in: Wallingford's effective property tax rate runs higher than Media's, around 2.1% versus roughly 1.2%, driven almost entirely by its school district's higher millage.
Media sits within the Rose Tree Media School District, which serves Media Borough along with Edgmont, Middletown, and Upper Providence townships. Students living in the borough typically attend Media Elementary School, then Springton Lake Middle School, then Penncrest High School. On the 2024-25 PSSA, the most recent Pennsylvania Department of Education testing data available, Rose Tree Media students scored well above the state average, with roughly 72% proficient in math and 80% in reading district-wide, compared to about 42% and 49% statewide.
Green space is easy to reach. Glen Providence Park offers wooded trails a short walk from downtown, and Veterans Square hosts community events throughout the year. State Street itself carries dozens of independently owned restaurants and shops, plus a Trader Joe's, giving residents most daily needs within a few blocks.
Older borough homes deserve a close look at the roof, electrical panel, and any past water damage. Many were built well before modern building codes. Ask about flood history for homes near Ridley Creek or other low lying areas. After closing, apply for Pennsylvania's Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion through the school district it lowers the taxable assessment on an owner-occupied primary residence and is funded by state gaming revenue, but it does not transfer with the property, so a seller's exclusion has no bearing on your bill. You have to file your own application once you own the home.
For townhouses, review the HOA budget and reserve fund before making an offer, since a poorly funded reserve can mean a special assessment down the road. A short list of questions before touring saves time once you find a home worth pursuing.
Media has posted steady, and at times sharp, price appreciation over the past few years, supported by strong schools, transit access, and a downtown that keeps drawing new residents. Limited land within the borough means supply stays naturally constrained, which tends to support home values over time.
No market moves in a straight line, and short term swings happen. Buyers planning to stay five years or more have generally fared well here, since walkable, transit connected towns like Media continue to attract steady demand.
Working with experienced realtors in Media PA brings context that listing photos cannot. That includes which blocks flood after heavy rain and which HOAs run well. This kind of detail matters more in a market where good listings sell within weeks. Buyers who want that level of guidance can contact us to build a plan before touring even begins.
Media rewards buyers who move with a plan. Prices have climbed steadily, competition stays real on well priced homes, and the borough's mix of walkability, transit, and schools keeps demand strong. Maybe you are drawn to a classic twin near State Street. Maybe a newer Media townhouse for sale fits better. Either way, understanding the market ahead of time puts you in a stronger position to act when the right home appears.
1. What is the median home price in Media, PA?
Recent sales in Media have landed at a median of about $542,000, per Redfin data for the three months ending June 2026, up 11.8% year over year. Zillow's broader home value index puts the typical Media home at $562,000 as of mid-2026. Prices have climbed over the past year, and well maintained homes often sell close to or above asking price.
2. Are there townhouses for sale in Media, PA?
Yes, Media townhouses come up regularly, especially in newer developments near the edges of the borough. They typically offer lower maintenance than older borough homes, often with an HOA that covers landscaping and shared spaces.
3. What school district serves Media, PA?
Media Borough is served by the Rose Tree Media School District, whose schools include Media Elementary School, Springton Lake Middle School, and Penncrest High School. On the 2024-25 PSSA, the most recent available testing data, the district's proficiency rates ran well above the Pennsylvania state average, and the district also serves several surrounding townships.
4. How much are property taxes in Media, PA?
Homeowners pay separate county, borough, and school district bills. Combining Delaware County's 4.609 mills, Media Borough's 2.000 mills, and Rose Tree Media School District's 15.9417 mills works out to an effective rate of roughly 1.2% of a home's market value, not assessed value. The exact figure depends on assessment and yearly millage rates, and Delaware County's Common Level Ratio, currently 1.83, is what converts the county's 2020 base-year assessments back into today's market value.
5. How long do homes stay on the market in Media, PA?
Well priced homes in Media often go under contract within three to six weeks. Many listings receive multiple offers, since the borough's housing supply stays limited.
