Cost to Own
United States › Pennsylvania › Delaware County › Media Population 5,868 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $1,155 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Delaware County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Media, Pennsylvania

A $398,000 home here costs

$3,325

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $142,500 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 13%Insurance 4%Utilities 7%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,170. The real number is $1,155 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Delaware County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Media median: $398,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
PA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $318,400 borrowed $2,170
Property tax1.340% effective rate for Media itself $444
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $133
Electricity21.77ยข/kWh, Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $178
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $332
Total monthly $3,325

Media against Delaware County and Pennsylvania

MeasureMediaDelaware County
Median home value$398,400$302,400
Median property tax$5,337$6,001
Effective tax rate1.340%1.984%
Median gross rent$1,359$1,315
Population5,868576,195

The weather behind that power bill

Media sits in Delaware County, which averages a high of 87.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 26.0°F in its coldest, with 44.11" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,358 cooling and 4,510 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Delaware County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Delaware County

Full Delaware County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Media averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Media every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Media I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Media?

A $398,000 home in Media, Pennsylvania costs approximately $3,325 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,170 principal and interest, $444 property tax, $133 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $332 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Media?

Media has an effective property tax rate of 1.340%, based on a median home value of $398,400 and median real estate taxes of $5,337. That is lower than the Delaware County average of 1.984%.

What is the average home price in Media?

The median owner-occupied home value in Media, Pennsylvania is $398,400, against $302,400 across Delaware County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Media?

Median gross rent in Media is $1,359 a month, against $3,325 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Media?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Media, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $142,500 a year. That covers the full $3,325 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Media, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology