Chester County, Pennsylvania: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Chester County is worth $461,800, property taxes on it run about $6,191 a year (1.34%), the FHA loan limit is $630,200, and closing on it means about $11,545 in transfer tax plus $3,088 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $461,800 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $6,191 a year, 1.34% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $630,200 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $11,545 (incl. West Chester Borough realty transfer tax) | Pennsylvania transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $3,088 owner's + $0 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $394 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $15,027 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $122,700; low-income limit $98,150 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Chester County?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester County is valued at $461,800, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Chester County?
The median Chester County homeowner pays $6,191 a year in real estate taxes, about 1.34% of the median home value ($6,350 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Chester County?
$630,200 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Chester County?
On the $461,800 median home: transfer tax $11,545, title insurance $3,088 for both policies, recording fees about $394, about $15,027 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Chester County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Chester County (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA) is $122,700. A family of four counts as low income below $98,150 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby Pennsylvania counties
- Cameron County $88,200
- Carbon County $193,700
- Centre County $308,100
- Clarion County $152,100
- Clearfield County $125,000
- Clinton County $179,100
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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