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Swarthmore, PA

Full City Profile · Pennsylvania · Delaware County County

3.8 /5.0
B+ Good
6,524 Population 4,660/sq mi density
$146,992 Median Income $66,784 per capita
$557,900 Home Value $454,071 Zillow
$1,493 Median Rent 27.5% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
31 Violent Crime/100K 467 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.6 / 5.0
$146,992 median income, 4.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$557,900 home value, $1,493/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
31 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
79.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Swarthmore, PA

At a Glance

Median Income
$146,992
96% above
$66,784 per capita
Home Value
$557,900
98% above
Zillow: $454,071
Median Rent
$1,493/mo
28% above
27.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
31/100K
92% below
467/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
79.2%
135% above
99.2% high school+
Unemployment
4.9%
36% above
0.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.1%
6% above
24.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F
293 sunny days/yr

How Swarthmore Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Swarthmore's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
196%
Home Value
198%
Rent
128%
Poverty
0%
Bachelor's
235%
Unemployment
136%
Crime
8%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Swarthmore a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.8 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Swarthmore residents earn a median household income of $146,992 , which is 96% above the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $66,784. The unemployment rate stands at 4.9% (36% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 0.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 14,424 business establishments, including 1,170 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Swarthmore is $557,900 , 98% above the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $454,071. Median rent is $1,493/month, with 27.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.

Safety & Crime

Swarthmore reports 31 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 92% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 467/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

79.2% of adults in Swarthmore hold a bachelor's degree or higher (135% above the national average). 99.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.9/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Swarthmore has an average annual temperature of 56°F (14°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 44.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Data Overview

People

Population6,524
Median Age34.4 yrs
Density4,660/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.4%

Economy

A+
Median Income$146,992
Per Capita$66,784
Unemployment4.9%
Poverty0.0%
County GDP$42,608M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,407

Housing

A+
Home Value$557,900
Rent$1,493
Ownership74.5%
Zillow$454,071
Housing Units2,266
Rent Burden27.5%

Crime

F
Violent31/100K
Property467/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault16/100K
Burglary31/100K

Health

Obesity34.1%
Diabetes13.5%
Smoking24.3%
Heart Disease6.8%
Premature Death7,708/100K

Climate

Avg Temp56°F
Sunny Days293/yr
Rain44.1 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation126 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+79.2%
High School+99.2%
Graduate+51.6%
School Score5.9/10

Community

2024 VoteR 38% / D 61%
Commute27 min
Broadband96.2%
Internet Speed279 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries28

Did You Know?

Swarthmore was founded in 1893.
The median home in Swarthmore was built in 1938.
17.6% work from home.
The nearest airport is Philadelphia International (6 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.482 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
7.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 279 Mbps.
There are 1,170 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 24 fatal vehicle crashes.