Community Affairs Report · Delaware County, PA
MEDIA, PA
Everybody's Hometown — Real Estate · Crime · Government · Taxes · Dining · Business · Traffic
COMPILED — MAY 4, 2026
🏠 Real Estate
🚔 Crime & Safety
🏛 Borough Gov't
🏢 Delco Gov't
💰 Taxes
⭐ Dining Under the Stars
🍽 New Businesses
🚗 Traffic
Real Estate
$626K
Median Home Price
March 2026
$689K
Avg. Sale Price
March 2026
+4.8%
Year-over-Year
Zillow Home Value Index
24
Days on Market
vs. 55-day national avg.
$562K
Zillow ZHVI Value
Up 4.8% year-over-year; goes pending in ~6 days
21
Active Listings
$309K–$2.7M price range
#10
PA Ranked Nationally
Hottest real estate market of 2026
New Construction Spotlight
Painter's Meadow — three luxury custom homes by Westfield Construction on 2-acre lots with 17-acre woodland backdrop in Delaware County. Rose Tree Media and Wallingford-Swarthmore school districts drive sustained buyer demand.
Crime & Public Safety
Active Police Alert
The Media Borough Police Dept. warns of fraudulent phone calls being made to residents by someone impersonating the Chief of Police. Do not provide personal information. Call 610-566-5210 immediately if contacted.
16
Law Enforcement Staff
14 sworn officers serving ~5,360 residents
487:1
Resident-to-Sex-Offender
Near state average (11 registered)
−30%
SEPTA Crime Q1 2026
Serious crimes on trolley network dropped vs. Q1 2025
Scam Alert — PECO Impersonation
Callers impersonate PECO, threaten power shutoff, demand prepaid card payments. Individual losses up to $3,000. Never purchase gift/prepaid cards as payment — PECO does not accept them. Hang up and call PECO directly.
Scam Alert — Fake PennDOT Texts
Fake texts threatening license suspension and requesting personal info via phishing links. PA State Police advisory issued March 2026. Do not click links — PennDOT will never threaten you by text.
Media Borough Government
Borough Offices
- 301 North Jackson Street, Media PA 19063
- Phone: 610-566-5210
- Parking, permits & payments: mediaborough.com
- Community programs: weekly Yoga & Tai Chi offered
Active Boards & Commissions
- Borough Council (governing body)
- Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB)
- Planning Commission
- Shade Tree Commission
- Recreation Board
- Transportation Committee
| Date | Body / Meeting |
|---|---|
| Mon, May 4 | Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) |
| Tue, May 5 | Recreation Board & Planning Commission |
| Thu, May 7 | Shade Tree Commission & Borough Council Workshop |
| Thu, May 14 | Transportation Committee |
| Sun, May 18 | Community Event (see borough calendar) |
| Wed, May 6+ | Dining Under the Stars begins — every Wednesday through Sept. |
Delaware County Government
County Seat — Media, PA
Government Center is at 201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063. The all-Democratic County Council passed the 2026 budget 4–1 on December 10, 2025, with a total budget of $957.8 million (up 6.6% from 2025).
2026 Budget Highlights
- $340.4M operating budget
- Three election departments merging into one
- Hiring freeze for non-essential positions
- Expanded internal audit department
- Granicus software for agenda transparency
- No new structural deficit — first time in a decade
Key County Services in Media
- Delaware County Courthouse
- George W. Hill Correctional Facility (deprivatized)
- Fair Acres Geriatric Center
- Office of Services for Aging (COSA)
- New county-run Health Department (2025–)
- Budget Management & Treasurer's Office
Taxes
+19%
2026 Property Tax Increase
+53%
Cumulative 3-Year Increase
$409
Extra/Year (avg. $255K home)
4.609
Mills — 2026 Tax Rate
Annual Tax Increase — $255,000 Assessed Value
2024
+$36/yr
2025
+$184/yr
2026
+$188/yr
Why the Increases?
County cites a structural deficit from prior administrations who deferred maintenance and held taxes flat for years. In 2026, compounding factors include rising inflation, employee healthcare costs, prison management overruns (~$28.5M over 3 years), and the end of COVID-era ARPA federal grant funding. Officials say future increases will be minimal now that the deficit is eliminated.
Dining Under the Stars
SEASON OPENS MAY 6, 2026
State Street Goes Al Fresco
Every Wednesday evening from May through September, State Street closes to traffic between Jackson & Orange, transforming into an open-air dining piazza. Now entering its 19th season — southeastern Pennsylvania's premiere weekly summer dining event.
24+
Restaurants
19th
Season
5:30
PM Start
What's Happening
- State Street closed Jackson to Orange St.
- Olive Street (Baker to State) also closes
- Live music every Wednesday
- BYOB options at many venues
- Weekly featured local non-profit
- Ice cream, bakeries, boutiques open
Planning Your Visit
- Reservations strongly recommended — some spots book weeks out
- SEPTA Route 101/102 trolley serves State Street
- Borough parking lots available
- Event is weather-permitting
- Hours: 5:30–10:30 PM (restaurant hours vary)
New Businesses & Dining
Media and surrounding Delaware County are seeing a restaurant renaissance in 2026, with 40+ new openings announced region-wide. Here are the notable spots near Media:
Jackson Street Steaks
📍 Downtown Media · Cheesesteaks
NAPA Kitchen & Wine
📍 Newtown Square · California Wine Bar
Testa Rossa (2nd Location)
📍 Wayne · Italian-American (Summer 2026)
Wonder
📍 Drexel Hill · Multi-menu Quick Service
Boondocks Bar & Grill
📍 Glen Mills · Nashville Honky-Tonk (Fall 2026)
COVO Italian Steakhouse
📍 Near Media · Italian Steakhouse
Blue South
📍 Near Media · New Concept
Di Anh Cafe
📍 Near Media · Vietnamese
Dining Under the Stars Boost
Restaurant owners say Dining Under the Stars Wednesdays bring a surge in business from Delaware, South Jersey, and Philadelphia — attracting new customers all summer long. The event is credited as the economic heartbeat of State Street's independent business district.
Traffic & Road Closures
Recurring Weekly Closure
Every Wednesday, May 6 – late September: State Street (Jackson to Orange) and Olive Street (Baker to State) are closed to vehicles from 5:00 PM onward for Dining Under the Stars. Plan alternate routes through the borough on Wednesday evenings.
Traffic Resources
511PA.com — Real-time delays, cameras, weather
SEPTA 101/102 Trolley — Media/Sharon Hill to 69th St.
PennDOT District 6 — Delaware County road projects
Call 5-1-1 — PA statewide travel info
SEPTA Trolley Update
- Crime down 30% system-wide in Q1 2026 vs. Q1 2025
- No murders reported on SEPTA in Q1 2026
- 232 new officers sworn in during Q1 — decade high
- Market-Frankford Line crime down 42%
- Broad Street Line crime down 19%
Parking in Media
- Multiple borough parking lots near State Street
- State Street closed Wednesday evenings 5 PM+
- SEPTA trolley recommended for Dining Under the Stars
- Parking info: mediaborough.com/276
