WEST CHESTER, PA — Even as the national housing market showed signs of cooling at the end of 2025, Chester County closed the year as one of Pennsylvania’s most expensive and resilient real estate markets, with prices and demand far outpacing national trends outlined in a new REMAX report.
According to local market data, the median home price in Chester County reached approximately $550,000 in December 2025, marking an 8.9% increase from December 2024. Detached homes commanded even higher values, with typical sale prices around $618,000, underscoring the county’s status as a premium suburban market within the Philadelphia region.
By contrast, the REMAX National Housing Report showed a median sales price of $434,000 across 52 major metro areas in December, up just 1.1% year over year. While national prices continued to rise, the pace of growth slowed sharply compared with prior years, signaling what REMAX described as a market “finding healthier footing.”
Sales activity in Chester County also diverged from national patterns. Locally, 475 homes sold in December, up from 443 during the same month in 2024, reflecting steady year-over-year momentum despite a seasonal slowdown. Nationally, REMAX reported home sales were up 5.0% year over year and 14.9% from November, closing out a year that largely mirrored 2024.
Inventory remained a defining constraint in Chester County. As of December 31, just 841 homes were listed for sale countywide, continuing a pattern of historically tight supply that has supported higher prices. Nationally, inventory levels told a different story. REMAX reported the number of homes for sale rose 16.5% compared to December 2024, contributing to softer price growth and more balanced conditions in many markets.
Time on market also highlighted the contrast. Homes in Chester County averaged 42 days before selling in December, up from 34 days a year earlier, giving buyers slightly more negotiating room but still reflecting a competitive environment. Across REMAX’s surveyed metro areas, the average days on market stretched to 61 days, the longest average listing-to-closing period in at least four years.
A major force shaping Chester County’s market has been the dominance of cash buyers, particularly in the $500,000 to $800,000 price range. Equity-rich households relocating or downsizing within the Philadelphia suburbs have been able to bypass financing contingencies, maintaining competitive pressure even as mortgage rates hovered in the mid-6% range for much of the year. Nationally, REMAX reported buyers paid an average of 98% of the asking price in December, a sign of easing competition compared with peak pandemic-era conditions.
Rental trends reinforced Chester County’s strength. Average rents finished 2025 at $2,129, a 3.5% increase from December 2024 and a pace that outperformed national averages. The REMAX report did not track rents, but analysts note rising rental costs continue to push would-be buyers into the ownership market, particularly in high-demand suburban counties.
By year’s end, Chester County showed early signs of stabilization, with buyers gaining more “breathing room” than earlier in 2025, when homes sold in as few as 18 days during the summer peak. Still, the county’s price levels and tight inventory stood in sharp contrast to the national picture, where rising inventory and slower appreciation pointed toward a more balanced market.
Taken together, the data suggest Chester County entered 2026 not as a market cooling off, but as one holding its ground at the top of Pennsylvania’s housing ladder, even as much of the country adjusted to a slower, more normalized pace.
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