Get to Know Upper Darby, PA

Did you know that Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, holds the distinction of being home to the Tower Theater? This top-billed concert venue has hosted legendary musicians such as David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, and The Rolling Stones. It’s just one of the many cool facets of living in this Philadelphia metro township.

The music scene is a small part of life in Upper Darby. What really makes it shine is its convenient location. Residents can reach downtown Philly in about 15 minutes on metro transit, but it’s far enough away to feel more suburban, with more parks, golf courses, and shopping options.

So Upper Darby might be one of your choices if you’re looking for an affordable place to live in the Philly metro. Learn more about this township, where culture and community come together in harmony.

Where is Upper Darby?

Head west from Philadelphia, and you’ll end up in Upper Darby Township, a small but densely populated metro suburb. Don’t think of this as a concrete jungle, as Upper Darby mixes green spaces with residential neighborhoods, shopping plazas, and service providers.

The township is one of the 49 divisions of Delaware County. In Pennsylvania, a township operates its own government and school system. Upper Darby Township includes the municipalities and unincorporated neighborhoods of Drexel Hill, Bywood, Kirklyn, Westbrook Park, and Secane. It borders the Philadelphia city limits, Montgomery County, Ridley, Springfield, and Haverford Townships.

About Upper Darby

The township’s roots started growing in the late 1600s when European settlers arrived, beginning with the Swedish. In fact, the Lower Swedish Cabin off Creek Road may be the oldest home in the state.

The colonies changed hands over the years through Dutch, English, and finally, the new United States, after which the area was quickly designated as Darby Township after the creek following through the farmlands. Through the first hundred years of statehood, Darby was utilized for its resources, with numerous mills along Darby Creek, rock quarries, and factories. The work attracted many immigrants.

Upper Darby also had a large Quaker contingent and background. A long-running abolition society was active in the Underground Railroad.

Post-Civil War industrialization caused the township’s population to swell as immigrants came to work factory jobs.

Upper Darby Township Government and its people are proud of the region’s long tradition of cultural diversity. The city calls itself “The World in One Place” as nearly one-quarter of its residents were born elsewhere, a figure even higher than in Philadelphia. It celebrates this kaleidoscope of beliefs through town events like the annual Upper Darby International Festival. The area is happy to promote the many diverse restaurants on the culinary scene and the unique shops that cater to different ethnic backgrounds.

Families living in the township are served by the Upper Darby School District for public education. Among these are Upper Darby High School, one of the largest public high schools in Pennsylvania.

What is the cost of living in Upper Darby?

The good news about living in Upper Darby is that it’s about 7% cheaper than the national average. That means you can live in a major metro and enjoy all its amenities without draining your bank account! Housing is remarkably affordable, coming in at 52% under the national average.

Upper Darby’s typical cost of living is near Pennsylvania’s averages, but one area you can expect to pay more is transportation. Having a car in the Philadelphia metro is not cheap, reflected in the 33% higher costs. Miscellaneous costs are 29% over, and utilities run 8% above average.

How many people live in Upper Darby?

Despite being just over seven square miles, around 84,835 people lived in Upper Darby Township as of 2022 US Census estimates. That figure has been relatively stable, at least back to the 1990s, as there’s little room for new construction and growth in this part of the Philadelphia metro. However, it is the sixth-largest municipality and township in the state.

What is real estate like in Upper Darby?

Naturally, as a well-established area with roots in colonial times, much of the architecture is historic. Most developments occurred during the 1800s and late 1900s, so the styles match the trends of that time: Queen Anne, Victorian, Craftsmen, etc. There’s even some “log cabin” influence thanks to the historic Swedish Cabin.

You’ll find stone homes, row homes, and those with wide front porches. However, multifamily living options tend to be predominant, representing 67% of the listings in June 2023.

Upper Darby had 18 recognized overarching neighborhoods, with some having smaller sections within them. The June 2023 market had 190 homes for sale, with 128 categorized as condos or townhomes. Prices range from $70,000 to $1.1 million in list price, with the median list price of $225,000, up 2.3% year-over-year.

What neighborhoods are in Upper Darby?

Perhaps the township’s largest neighborhood, Drexel Hill in eastern Upper Darby, is also one of its oldest, with roots going back to when the Swedish immigrants set up their colony. The residences harken back to simpler times, with white-washed Tudors and stately colonials shaded by well-established trees. The community is served by two trolley lines and many bus stops.

The name Highland Park suggests green spaces, and residents do have ample park space to roam because it’s backed by Haddington Woods and McCall Golf Club. Pick up the trail at Parkview Road, where the local kids have Parkview playground to get out their wiggles. And when you need to move about, being next to West Chester Pike makes commuting by car a little easier.

Aronmink in the west is slightly newer, but that’s all relative to Upper Darby’s age. More development occurred around the early 20th century, so among its styles are predominantly rowhomes and classic Craftsmen. Sizes vary widely. Today locals describe it as a quiet neighborhood beside State Road, with an elementary school walkable for the kids, a swim club, a golf course, and a few parks nearby.

Bywood is a denser developed area in Upper Darby and highly residential, with tight, one-way streets crisscrossing its network. But it’s convenient to two shopping centers, including a string of big box retailers like Ross and H&M. For recreation, Bywood has a YMCA and two parks. Multiple trolley line stops run through Bywood.

Westbrook Park lies partially along the winding Darby Creek, making it one of the older sections. Westbrook Park’s mostly residential with multiple pocket parks, plus the larger Indian Rock Park. Expect slightly larger lots, but that isn’t the hard and fast rule, as some sections have historic row homes complete with 19th-century details.

What are some attractions in Upper Darby?

Perhaps the most notable attraction of Upper Darby is the historic Tower Theater, a concert venue The Rolling Stone has called one of the best live music venues in the US. Notable entertainers that have wowed Philly crowds include musicians like U2, Mary J. Blige, and comedians Dave Chapelle and Trevor Noah.

A perk of living in the suburbs is they usually have more recreational space. Upper Darby residents can soak in the sunshine on those lovely Pennsylvania summer days at green areas like Naylor’s Run Park and Kent Park. Two golf courses and Cobbs Creek Park border Upper Darby for more green spaces.

A smattering of historic cemeteries breaks up the residential areas. You may not think a graveyard is a neat attraction, but Arlington Cemetery includes the Greenhorn Gardens and Arlington Field, where the town puts on its annual MusicMan Festival. The location has a small Museum of Mourning that exhibits grief and how local citizens were active in the Underground Railroad. Interestingly, the building was modeled after George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

For the budding performer, the Upper Darby Summer Stage is a nationally recognized performing arts program for children and young adults. As the name suggests, the summer is its busy season, when it puts on theater productions and music concerts.

Is there golf in Upper Darby?

Upper Darby Township has some golfing facilities for those who like to play.

McCall Golf and Country Club is a private 18-hole course designed by none other than Donald Ross and William Flynn, making it historic and classic. It was established by PECO first as a baseball field but renovated by Ross to open in 1919. It expanded to 18 holes in 1923. Even though it plays at 4,469 yards, it’s sufficiently challenging for all skill levels.

Cobbs Creek Golf Course is undergoing restoration as of 2023. The public course will serve as a golf learning lab with its overseeing nonprofit Foundation focused on bringing the sport to the youth. It will have an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole course. It hopes to be fully open by 2026, with facilities opening in stages until then.

Rolling Greens Golf Club is just outside the township limits across Darby Creek but close enough to visit when you want to play. William Flynn also designed this course, which will soon celebrate 100 years.

Getting around Upper Darby

While no interstates run through Upper Darby, you do have West Chester Pike (PA Highway 3) that will drop you off at I-76 and into South Philadelphia. Westward on Township Line Road (PA Highway 1) connects you to I-476.

The township is well-connected to the Philly area metro transit system. Known as SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority), the Market-Frankford Line moves residents across the township and into Philly proper. It links up with SEPTA’s public bus routes for extended travel.

Moving to Upper Darby

Calling Upper Darby home makes sense if you want an affordable metro suburb with easy access to public transport. This is a truly unique township in the Philly metro, as it embraces people from around the world and celebrates their differences. The mix of suburban-style living with the big city infrastructure and perks, like its connections to music’s best, make a living in Upper Darby attractive to many.