Upper Chichester Township, PA Area Guide

Settled in 1681 as part of William Penn's original land grant from King Charles II, Upper Chichester earned its place among the earliest European-founded communities in Delaware County. The first purchasers were fourteen English and Welsh settlers, most of them Quakers, who built their lives along the same terrain where the Lenni Lenape had established semi-permanent fishing and farming villages for generations before them.

The name Chichester itself carries the weight of that colonial-era governance, echoing the original Chester designation under Penn's administration. That layered past -- from Indigenous settlement to Swedish and Dutch trade claims to Quaker founding -- gives the township a historic depth that surfaces in its older architecture and the long-standing community identity it has maintained through centuries of change.

Interstate 95 runs as the primary north-south artery connecting the township to Philadelphia and Wilmington, making car travel the most direct way to reach either city. For rail commuters, the Marcus Hook and Highland Avenue SEPTA stations on the Wilmington/Newark Line are both within about a seven-minute drive, offering a reliable option into Center City Philadelphia.

Philadelphia International Airport sits just 11 miles away, a roughly 19-minute drive, and Wilmington Airport is about 27 minutes out. Rideshare services operate throughout the region, supplementing commuter rail for trips that fall between driving and transit.

Clayton Park, about 10 minutes away, and Upland Park, roughly 11 minutes out, offer the nearest green escapes for township residents looking to get outside without a long drive. Both sit within Delaware County and provide accessible options for open-air recreation close to home.

Bellevue State Park in Delaware, just 15 minutes away, expands the outdoor options with broader grounds and trails. Smedley Park, reachable in about 18 minutes, rounds out the nearby green space for those willing to venture a little farther for a more expansive experience.

Rents here come in slightly below the Pennsylvania statewide average for one-bedroom units, making Upper Chichester Township a competitively priced option in the greater Philadelphia suburban market. One-bedroom apartments average around $1,506 per month, two-bedroom units around $1,720, and three-bedroom rentals average around $2,246. The township's median household income is $85,799.

Stoney Pond Plaza, less than a mile away, is the most convenient stop for everyday needs -- reachable in about two minutes from most parts of the township. Larkin's Corner and the shopping center along Chichester Avenue add more options within a four-minute drive, keeping routine errands well within reach.

For larger retail runs, the nearby communities of Boothwyn and Chester offer big-box stores and a broader selection of shops, all accessible in under 10 minutes.

Suburban living, strong Philadelphia commuter access via I-95 and nearby SEPTA rail stations, one of Delaware County's oldest communities, 11 miles from Philadelphia International Airport, and minutes from Clayton Park, Bellevue State Park, and three nearby universities.