Photo: Smallbones at en.wikipedia · Public domainDarby spent less per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities
Darby’s borough government spent $9.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $893 per resident.
What stands out about how Darby is run
Read from the borough’s budget and official records.
$893 per resident in 2022: less than 67% of them
Darby’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($893 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 43 Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $997, and the middle half spent $812–$1,266. Darby spent less than 67% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.3 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Darby itself left out).
About $893 per resident a year, or $2.45 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 49%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Darby reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,560 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 3.02% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Darby’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Darby’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Darby →
Who’s in charge in Darby
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Darby’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on darbyborough.com ↗.
One full-time borough employee for every 412 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (10,704).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
William Penn School District
Darby’s K–12 school district, shared with Aldan, Colwyn, East Lansdowne, Lansdowne, Yeadon. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $22,759 per pupil, $14,333 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Darby’s votes are counted by county
Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Darby alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Delaware County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat61.3%201,324 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican37.6%123,421 votesOthers: 1.0% (3,427 votes).
Most votes in Delaware County: Kamala D Harris
Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%
100% of Darby lies in Delaware County. Every 2024 race in Delaware County is on the county’s page.
Delaware County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Darby.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: darbyborough.com ↗
- 2Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
- 3Pennsylvania SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Darby compares with the towns next door
Darby spent $893 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $872 to $5,379. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Collingdale | $872 | $3,636 |
| Philadelphia | $5,379 | $2,003 |
| Yeadon | estimate | $5,044 |
| Colwyn | estimate | $4,403 |
| Upper Darby Township | estimate | $5,254 |
| Darby | $893 | $3,560 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Darby’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Darby’s government
How much does Darby spend per resident?
About $893 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $893 was less than 67% of 43 Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Darby?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,560 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 3.02% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see darbyborough.com.
Who runs Darby’s government?
See darbyborough.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Darby yet.
How did Darby vote in 2024?
Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Darby alone. Delaware County, where 100% of Darby lies, voted Harris 61.3%, Trump 37.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Darby?
26 full-time and 60 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $311,013 (about $3.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Darby in the state legislature?
State Senate District 8 (Tony Williams) and State House District 191 (Joanna McClinton). The House district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Darby’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →