Upper Darby Township is a home rule township, which means it’s incorporated under its unique ruling, using a mayor-council form of government. It was settled in 1653 and officially established in 1736. The community living in Upper Darby is known for its historic music venue, the Tower Theater; there are also several Underground Railroad sites. The motto for Upper Darby is “The world in one place”; this motto encompasses the diversity and history that can be found here. Upper Darby Township is a good place to live, and it is perfect for families and young professionals.
Table of Contents
Where Is Upper Darby Township?
Upper Darby Township is in Delaware County and is a home rule township. It borders Philadelphia and is close to Cobbs Creek. With it being a township, Upper Darby is surrounded by its neighborhoods, which we will get to later. The distance from Upper Darby to Philadelphia is 8 miles.
There is public transportation in Upper Darby through the 69th Street Transportation Center. Some of the lines available include the Market-Frankford Line and the Norristown High-Speed Line, and different bus routes.
Upper Darby Township Population & Demographics
The population of Upper Darby is 84,897, which is an increase of 2,102 people since 2010. The population density in Upper Darby is 10,849.1 per square mile.
A few of the most notable people who have lived in Upper Darby include Tina Fey, John Cappelletti, and Margo L Davidson.
Upper Darby Township demographics:
- 44% White, 6% Hispanic, 13% Asian, 3% Biracial, 34% African American
- Gender Breakdown: 53% female and 47% male
- 22.5% Foreign-Born Population
- Median Household Income: $62,914 which is slightly less than the state median household income of $68,957
- Median Age: 34 years old
- Educational Attainment: 89.8% of the residents graduated from high school, and 30.9% has received their Bachelors degree
The total crime rate in the area of Upper Darby, PA, is 3,796 per 100k people, which is 62% higher than the national average. But the majority of these crimes come from property, not violent crimes. Just like any other city, there are still plenty of areas in Upper Darby that are safe to live and are family-friendly.
The Upper Darby Township Police Department protects and serves the community of Upper Darby. With 133 sworn officers and a department that continues to grow, there are plenty of officers on duty.
Cost of Living in Upper Darby Township
The cost of living in Upper Darby, PA, is 5.7% below the national average, making it an affordable place to live. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four needs to make $94,706 per year to live comfortably in Upper Darby, PA.
Typical Upper Darby Township Living Expenses
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: $19.00
- Domestic Beer (1 pint draught): $6.00
- Milk (regular, 1 gallon): $4.78
- Bread (1 loaf): $3.24
- Oranges (1 lb): $2.12
- Apples (1 lb): $2.35
- Beef Round (1 lb): $6.76
- Eggs (regular, 12): $3.46
- Average Cost of Gasoline Per Gallon: $4.55
- Fitness Club (Per Month, 1 Adult): $49.06
- Average Upper Darby Township Utilities Per Month: $296
Source: Numbeo
The Upper Darby median home price is $218,000, and the median sale price per square foot is $148. If you’re currently looking to purchase a property, here are some of the current Upper Darby, PA homes for sale. The breakdown of the home prices based on single-family, condo, and townhome is the following:
- Single-Family: $314,500
- Condo: $90,000
- Townhouse: $190,000
Purchasing a home isn’t for everyone. If you’re planning to rent an apartment, the average rent in Upper Darby is about $1,046. The pricing is influenced by the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, amenities, and the neighborhood. Plus, there are plenty of beautiful and affordable apartments to choose from in Upper Darby, PA.
Upper Darby Township Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Upper Darby Township
While Upper Darby has plenty of neighborhoods to choose from, like Aronimink, Beverly Hills, Bywood, Drexel Hill, Drexel Park, Highland Park, Llanerch Hills, Kellyville, Kirklyn, Oakview, Primos, Secane, Stonehurst, Terminal Square, and Westbrook Park, here are the top two!
Drexel Hill | Home To The Lower Swedish Cabin
The crime rate in Drexel Hill is on par with the national average. It’s considered a good place to live as Drexel is commonplace for young professionals and families to settle down. This Upper Darby neighborhood is home to the famous and historical Lower Swedish Cabin— the oldest log cabin in America. The median home sale price is $212,000, which is an affordable price for real estate.
Secane | Home To The Tully-Secane Country Club
Secane has been around since 1683 when William Penn purchased the land. While Secane was originally known for being home to the Tully-Secane Country Club, the Roman Catholic church changed the golf course into the present-day church, Our Lady of Fatima Church. Technically, Secane overlaps into two other areas in addition to Upper Darby, Ridley Township, and Delaware County. The median home sale price in Secane is $228,000.
Upper Darby Township Weather & Climate
Upper Darby, PA, is considered a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). If you like to garden, the hardiness zone for Upper Darby is 7a but close to 7b. During the spring and summer months, the weather in Upper Darby is warm, wet, and humid.
The temperatures during the spring and summer months can range between the mid-60s and the upper 80s. During the fall and winter months, the weather in Upper Darby is partly cloudy, cold, and snowy. The temperatures during the fall and winter months can range between the mid-60s and get down to the low 40s during the day. The annual amount of rainfall in Upper Darby is around 38.2 inches, and for snowfall, the average annual amount of snow is 18.5 inches. The best time of year to visit Upper Darby is between June and July and then again between August and September.
Some of the most common natural disasters that can occur in Pennsylvania include tornadoes, tropical storms, thunderstorms, and flooding.
Things to Do in Upper Darby Township
Upper Darby has quite a few shopping centers, but the most popular three are the 69th Street Plaza, Bond Shopping Center, and Drexeline Shopping Center. If you’re looking for individual stores in Upper Darby, check out these popular storefronts: Burlington, Easy Pickins, Ross Dress For Less, H Mart Upper Darby, Furniture Mecca, and The Fresh Grocer of Upper Darby.
The Tower Theater
With a wide variety of live performances, ballet shows, bands, musicians, and artists, The Tower Theater has been a staple in Upper Darby, PA, since 1972. They even offer private events, so whether you’re a musician, dancer, comedian, or anything in between, you can host your next event at The Tower Theater.
The Tower Theater, S 69th St &, Ludlow St, Upper Darby, PA 19082 (610) 352-2887
Lower Swedish Cabin
The historical Swedish log cabin was built sometime between 1640 and 1650 and was originally a place where immigrants who joined the Sweden colony could live. Now it’s a famous museum. Since 1980, the National Register of Historic Places has protected the log cabin.
Lower Swedish Cabin 13 Creek Rd, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
Putt-Putt Fun Center
Putt-putt is a fun activity for all ages. Whether you’re coming for a birthday, to spend time with family, or to practice your shot, the Putt-Putt Fun Center is a family-friendly attraction perfect for all ages.
Putt-Putt Fun Center 5300 W Baltimore Pike, Clifton Heights, PA 19018 (610) 626-5766
Additional Places To Visit In Upper Darby Township
There are plenty of parks in Upper Darby Township that are family-friendly and perfect for all ages, like the Cardington Recreation Area, Observatory Hill Playground, and the Beverly Hills Recreation Area. If you’re interested in attending a local event in the community of Upper Darby, check out the event calendar.
Upper Darby Township Restaurants
Food is a community staple. Here are some of the top restaurants in Upper Darby, PA!
Pica’s Restaurant Of Upper Darby
Since 1941, Pica’s Restaurant has been serving all your Italian favorites in Upper Darby, from hoagies to pizza, pasta, and much more! The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly, so bring everyone to dinner–they’d love to have you!
Pica’s Restaurant Of Upper Darby, 7803 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082 (610) 789-7770
View this post on Instagram
Cawley’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
Cawley’s Irish Pub has delicious and unique foods! Some of their signature selections include Irish Bash Pie, cheesesteak, breakfast sandwiches, hoagies, grilled reubens, and so much more! If you want mouth-watering options, then you know where to stop!
Cawley’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 7919 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082 (610) 449-1194
Korean Grill House
Korean Barbecue is taking Upper Darby by storm. If you’re looking for the best and most authentic Korean BBQ in the area, you need to try the Korean Grill House!
Korean Grill House, 7260 Marshall Rd, Upper Darby, PA 19082 (610) 284-9000
Jobs in Upper Darby Township
The current unemployment rate in Upper Darby, PA, is 8.5%, which is slightly higher than the national average of 6%. Upper Darby Township’s largest industry is a tie between Social Assistance & Health Care. The top three employers in Upper Darby are Delaware County, Multicultural Community Family Services, and Upper Darby Police.
According to Payscale, the average salary in Upper Darby Township is $67,000 per year, and the hourly rate is $15.95. Within a 25-mile radius of Upper Darby, Indeed has 112,302 jobs available. If you’re interested in working for the local government of Upper Darby Township, there are plenty of vacant openings.
Upper Darby Township Schools
Upper Darby, PA, is part of the Upper Darby Township School District. Whether you enjoy playing sports or want to join a club like the ALS club, the art club, the chess club, the knitting club, the e-sport club, or be a part of the fall play, there are so many opportunities to get involved in your school district.
There are plenty of schools to choose from, but a few examples include:
- Highland Park Elementary (1st-5th)
- Beverly Hills Middle School (6-8th)
- Upper Darby High School (9-12th)
There is a highly-ranked private school called The Christian Academy in Brookhaven, which is 10 miles away and provides schooling from PK-12th.
Some nearby universities include the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Delaware County Community College, Haverford College, Villanova University, and the West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Whether you’re a student or looking for something fun to read, you can find everything at the Upper Darby Township Free Public Library.
Upper Darby Township Statistics & Information
- Upper Darby Township County: Delaware
- Upper Darby Township Area: 7.83 square miles
- Upper Darby Township Zip Codes: 19018, 19026, 19050, 19082-19083, 19151
- Upper Darby Township Area Codes: (610) and (484)
- Upper Darby Township Elevation: 230 feet above sea level
- Upper Darby Township Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- The Closest Airport: The closest airport to Havertown is the Philadelphia International Airport which is 15 miles away
Map of Upper Darby Township, PA
Explore more restaurants, amenities, shops, and places with this map of Upper Darby Township.
Are you considering moving to Upper Darby Township? Suburban Moving is a hard working, trustworthy, and affordable team of Upper Darby Township movers. Call us at (610) 314-6868 for a free estimate!
