CHESTER COUNTY, PA — While much of Pennsylvania’s housing market showed signs of cooling in December, Chester County continued to defy gravity, posting rising prices, steady demand, and a housing market that remains among the most competitive in the state.
The median sale price in Chester County climbed to about $550,000 in December 2025, an 8.9% increase from the same month a year earlier. Detached homes commanded even higher values, with a median price near $618,000. Although that figure dipped slightly from November, it still marked a solid year-over-year gain, signaling that home values remain resilient despite seasonal headwinds.
Sales activity also held firm. A total of 475 homes changed hands during the month, up from 443 in December 2024. As expected for winter, both new listings and overall activity declined from November levels, but the annual comparison pointed to sustained buyer interest.
Homes are taking longer to sell, offering a subtle shift in market dynamics. The median time on the market rose to 42 days, compared with 34 days a year earlier, giving buyers more breathing room than during the frenzied conditions of recent years.
Inventory remains the defining constraint. About 841 homes were listed for sale at the end of December, up from last year but still well below levels considered balanced. The limited supply, paired with consistent demand, continues to support elevated prices across the county. Even so, the market has moved closer to equilibrium and is now leaning slightly toward buyers compared with 2024.
Statewide, the picture looks notably different.
According to the latest housing report from the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, Pennsylvania’s housing market cooled in December much like the winter weather. The statewide median sales price fell about 5% from November to $289,000, though it remained essentially flat compared with December 2024. The full report is available at https://www.parealtors.org/housing-report/.
“The housing market often sees a slowdown in December influenced by the holidays and weather in our region,” said David Dean, the association’s 2026 president and a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in the Pittsburgh region. He noted that buyers who remain active during the winter months often face less competition.
On an annual basis, Pennsylvania home prices continued to rise, but at a slower pace than in recent years. The statewide median price for 2025 reached $299,500, up 4.5% from $286,712 in 2024, a sharp contrast to the double-digit gains recorded earlier in the decade.
Listings and sales across the state declined in December both month over month and by more than 10% compared with December 2024. Still, the average number of homes on the market increased 15% from 2024 to 2025, a trend Dean described as a healthy step toward restoring balance.
“The encouraging rise in the number of homes listed this year is giving buyers more options,” Dean said, adding that it also creates more stable conditions for sellers ready to move.
Total home sales statewide climbed 4.7% in 2025 to more than 116,000 transactions.
The contrast between Chester County and the broader Pennsylvania market highlights the county’s continued appeal — and affordability challenges — as buyers compete for limited inventory in one of the region’s most sought-after housing markets.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.