Media, PA

Media lives up to its name, which comes from the Latin word for middle because Delaware County placed its county seat right in the center of the region back in 1850. Because the county courthouse is right in town on Front Street, the borough has always had a steady buzz of attorneys, jurors, and local workers walking around during the week. The residential streets surrounding the downtown core are packed with character, featuring classic Victorian single-family homes, charming brick twins, rowhouses, and 1920s bungalows on compact lots. It feels like a self-contained small town where you can walk almost anywhere in under fifteen minutes.

ATTRSmallbones / Public domain

State Street serves as the lively heartbeat of the borough, filled with independent coffee shops, cozy BYOBs, boutiques, and the historic Media Theatre. Getting around without a car is surprisingly easy here, thanks to the Route 101 trolley rolling right down State Street toward the 69th Street terminal and the Media/Wawa Regional Rail line offering a direct ride into Center City Philadelphia. From May through September, the town shuts down State Street on Wednesday evenings for Dining Under the Stars, turning the roadway into a giant open-air patio. Between community 5K races, annual jazz and craft festivals, and a proud tradition as the country's first Fair Trade town, the town center always has something going on that brings neighbors together.

ATTRFamartin / CC BY-SA 4.0

If you are house hunting here, keep in mind that many listings with a Media mailing address are actually in neighboring Upper Providence or Nether Providence townships, which feature more traditional suburban subdivisions. Within the borough itself, having a dedicated driveway is a huge perk since street parking can get competitive near the courthouse and State Street. It is also smart to check local historic guidelines if you plan on exterior renovations, and have an inspector check older foundations and sewer laterals for moisture, especially on streets sloping toward the creeks. The best way to know if a house is right for you is to visit at different times of the week, like during morning rush hour, a busy court session, or a crowded Wednesday night dinner.