Media and neighboring areas are experiencing slow growth, but experts indicate that demand in Delaware County remains strong.

The population dynamics in the Media area, including its neighboring boroughs, reflect a modest growth trend according to recent estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Between July 2023 and July 2024, the area’s overall population saw an increase of less than 1%. However, Middletown Township emerged as a notable exception, showcasing a 2% rise, which experts attribute to significant housing developments.

Middletown Township has experienced a population uptick, adding 344 new residents during the reported year and bringing its total population to 17,317. Neighboring communities also reported gains: Nether Providence increased by 104 residents to a total of 14,559; Upper Providence added 73 residents, reaching 10,937; Swarthmore experienced a modest growth of 37 residents for a total of 6,596; Media itself gained 48 residents, growing to 5,938; and Rose Valley concluded the period with only five additional residents, totaling 1,020.

This demographic shift is largely attributed to the completion of substantial housing projects in Middletown, specifically the Pond’s Edge community, which introduced 197 new townhomes, and the Franklin Station development, which added 38 single-family homes and 229 townhomes. Both developments wrapped up construction in 2024 and mark a strategic shift in the area’s growth pattern. Historically focused on transforming undeveloped land, recent trends in Middletown have pivoted towards revitalizing previously inhabited sites.

In the broader context of Delaware County, population growth remains uneven. Although parts of the county such as Middletown and Radnor reported post-pandemic growth, these increases have been significantly lower than those experienced by neighboring communities, which recorded population spikes of up to 8% from 2020 to 2023. Overall, Delaware County is considered to be one of the slower-growing regions in the area, attributed in part to limited new housing development. As reported, the county issued only 371 new residential permits in 2022, starkly contrasting with the 2,149 permits issued in neighboring Montgomery County that same year.

Rising housing costs remain a pressing issue for the region. The Zillow Home Value Index recently indicated that the average home price in the 19063 zip code, which encompasses Media and surrounding areas, climbed to approximately 4,685, reflecting an increase of 2.5% from the previous year. In comparison, the average home value in Delaware County was reported at 5,007, a rise of 1.8% year-over-year.

Many analysts project that housing demand in and around Media will continue to rise as adjacent counties experience escalating property prices, particularly in more expensive areas such as the Main Line. This trend raises concerns about housing affordability, which could hinder efforts to attract and retain younger professionals—a vital demographic for the region’s economic health. The current landscape suggests that careful planning and development strategies will be essential for addressing these ongoing challenges in Delaware County’s growth narrative.