Photo by Alicia Pimental/Chesapeake Bay Program
New Garden is located in southern Chester County in eastern Pennsylvania. As of 2018, the population of New Garden was 9,635 people in 3,905 households. The median household income (MHI) is $116,549 which is significantly above the state MHI of $59,445. In New Garden, 9 percent of the population is living below the federal poverty line, compared to the state’s 12.5 percent. Oxford is a small Borough to the west of New Garden, also in southern Chester County. As of 2018, the population of Oxford was 3,780 people in 1,870 households. The MHI is $56,450 compared to the statewide MHI of $59,445. In Oxford 22 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty line, compared to the state’s 12.5 percent.
The two municipalities within this case study offer a view of the complexity of water and wastewater service areas that are not coincident with the municipal boundary. The two municipalities have very different median household incomes; however, the average monthly water and wastewater bills for residents are similar; $51.96 for Oxford customers and $56.50 for New Garden customers. Neither has a stormwater utility or stormwater fee at this time.