Living in Upper Chichester, PA

Yes, Upper Chichester is widely regarded as one of the safer communities in Delaware County. Niche rates it a C+ overall for safety, but residents on Reddit and neighborhood forums consistently describe it as a quiet, family-oriented township where violent crime is rare and neighbors look out for one another. Historically, Upper Chichester has recorded some of the lowest crime rates in Delaware County. Property crime is the more common concern, as in most suburban townships, but overall the community is considered safe and welcoming for families. The township maintains its own police department and works closely with the Delaware County dispatch for emergency services.

Upper Chichester Township is served by the Chichester School District, which covers Upper Chichester, Lower Chichester, Marcus Hook, and Trainer. Niche gives the district an overall grade of C (3.12 out of 5 stars), with a B for college preparation. The district operates six schools serving roughly 2,985 students with a strong 11:1 student-teacher ratio. Elementary students attend Hilltop Elementary (K-4), Boothwyn Elementary (K-4), Linwood Elementary (K-4), or Marcus Hook Elementary (K-4), depending on their address. All students then move to Chichester Middle School (grades 5-8) and Chichester Senior High School (grades 9-12). The high school has an 88.9 percent graduation rate and offers several Advanced Placement courses and career pathways through Delaware County Technical Schools. About 43.8 percent of students are economically disadvantaged.

Upper Chichester's location is its strongest asset for commuters. The township sits immediately adjacent to I-95, the East Coast's primary north-south interstate. Center City Philadelphia is roughly 20 miles north, about 26 to 30 minutes by car in normal traffic, or 35 to 45 minutes during peak hours. Wilmington, Delaware is about 10 to 12 miles south, roughly 15 minutes on I-95. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is 13 miles north, about 16 minutes. For transit commuters, SEPTA's Wilmington/Newark Regional Rail Line serves the Marcus Hook Station (about 8 minutes from most of Upper Chichester) and reaches Suburban Station in 43 to 46 minutes. SEPTA bus Route 113 runs along Chichester Avenue connecting to Darby Transit Center and the 69th Street Transportation Center. DART First State Bus Line 13 connects to downtown Wilmington in about 28 minutes.

Upper Chichester offers a solid value proposition relative to many Delaware County communities. The cost of living index is roughly on par with or slightly above the national average, but below the Main Line or Center City Philadelphia. Median home values are approximately $268,000 (Niche) with median sale prices around $345,000 over the last 12 months (Homes.com). Homes typically range from the low $200,000s for fixer-uppers to $600,000+ for larger newer construction. Median rent is approximately $1,281 per month. One major financial advantage: Upper Chichester residents do not pay Philadelphia's 3.75 percent city wage tax, saving a household earning $100,000 about $3,750 annually. The median household income is approximately $84,000 to $92,000, with about 5.3 percent of the population below the poverty line. About 71 percent of residents own their homes.

Upper Chichester's housing stock is primarily mid-century and newer, with the median year built around 1976. The most common architectural styles include ranch houses from the 1950s and 1960s, Cape Cods from the 1950s, colonial revivals, split-levels, and townhomes. Newer construction from the 1990s and 2000s is concentrated in planned subdivisions. Popular neighborhoods include Stoney Creek at Naamans (modern townhomes, home of 115 Louise Dr), Canterbury Woods (detached homes), Cherry Tree Knoll, and the development along Meetinghouse Road. The average single-family home is roughly 1,758 square feet with three to four bedrooms. Land sizes are generally generous for a close-in suburb, with many homes sitting on quarter-acre to half-acre lots. About 71 percent of the housing stock is owner-occupied.

Upper Chichester is often compared to neighboring communities in southern Delaware County. Versus Media, Upper Chichester offers significantly more house for the money — a $350,000 home in Upper Chichester would cost $500,000+ in Media — but Media has a walkable downtown and the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, which scores higher on state assessments. Versus Boothwyn (which is actually a neighborhood within Upper Chichester Township), the comparison is apples-to-apples: Boothwyn is the most well-known part of the township, with its own census-designated place designation and the concentration of shopping and dining. Versus Lansdowne, Upper Chichester is further from Center City (20 miles vs 6 miles) but closer to I-95 and Wilmington, with newer housing stock and lower crime rates. Versus Chester City, Upper Chichester is dramatically safer and more suburban. The common thread in Reddit discussions: Upper Chichester is seen as a smart, middle-class choice — not flashy but solid, safe, and well-located.

Upper Chichester Township maintains several parks and a recreation center. Peach Street Park features an ADA-accessible playground, athletic field, basketball court, and pavilion. Excelsior Drive Park offers playgrounds, athletic fields, and blacktop play areas. Kingsman Road Park is undergoing a $200,000 renovation (funded by a 2023 DCNR grant) that will add ADA-accessible paths, inclusive play equipment, Pickleball courts, and Bocce Ball courts. Gibbons Park is a community favorite with planned traffic improvements. The Upper Chichester Township Fieldhouse at the Furey Road Complex (8500 Furey Rd) opened in 2003 and features an indoor track, volleyball and basketball courts, Pickleball courts, a weight room, and a gym. The outdoor Furey Road Complex includes softball fields, a skate park, and a picnic area. All parks are open dusk until dawn. Nearby Ridley Creek State Park (2,600 acres) is just 10 minutes north.

Upper Chichester has a family-oriented, middle-class community feel. The median age is 39.5 years, and the median household income is $84,000 to $92,000. Residents on Reddit and Niche consistently describe Upper Chichester as a quiet, safe suburb where people know their neighbors, kids play outside, and community events like township recreation programs and sports leagues bring people together. It is a welcoming community with a mix of longtime homeowners and families who have recently moved in to put down roots. The phrase 'solid middle-class suburb' comes up repeatedly in resident reviews — not fancy, not struggling, just comfortable and well-run.

Upper Chichester Township has deep colonial roots. The area was part of the 'Chichester Liberty' established by William Penn in 1683, one of the original land grants along the Delaware River. The Chichester Friends Meetinghouse (611 Meetinghouse Rd) dates to the early 1700s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — it remains an active Quaker meetinghouse and a tangible link to the area's founding. The township itself was carved from Lower Chichester in 1759. A historical marker on Chichester Avenue commemorates this heritage. Today, the township's landmarks are less about historic architecture and more about community anchors: the Fieldhouse and Furey Road Complex, the Spray Park, the Booth's Corner Farmers Market just across the line in Garnet Valley, and the commercial corridor along Chichester Avenue. The Chichester Avenue corridor (PA Route 202) functions as the township's main street, lined with shopping centers, restaurants, and services.

Yes, Upper Chichester is generally rated as a good family suburb. Niche gives it a B- for families, with residents praising its safe streets, parks system, and community feel. The Chichester School District offers a full K-12 public education path, and families also have access to nearby private options including St. Thomas the Apostle School (Glen Mills), The Christian Academy (Brookhaven), and Delaware County Christian School (Newtown Square). For recreation, families love the Spray Park in summer, the skate park at Furey Road, and the youth sports leagues run by the township's recreation department. The proximity to both Philadelphia and Wilmington means families can access children's museums, the Please Touch Museum, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, the Franklin Institute, and Longwood Gardens — all within 20 to 30 minutes. Upper Chichester is the kind of place where your dollar buys a house with a yard, a garage, and good neighbors, without requiring a 60-minute commute.