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CITY

Swarthmore

Pennsylvania · 6,561 residents (2025 est.) · 1.4 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#68Most educatedof 6,82681.5%#117Lowest poverty rateof 6,8231.8%#270Youngest by median ageof 6,82628.3
The short version

Swarthmore is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $152,361. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 82% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $633,800. At a median age of 28.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
82% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,550
+6%since 2000
from 6,170 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,679 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 4,377 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
28.3
−15%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,561 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K6K6K7K1990201020202024Swarthmore
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.9%(452)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.5%(296)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(411)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1916.6%(1,088)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2413.9%(913)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 345.6%(368)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(742)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.8%(644)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649%(590)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.9%(646)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.9%(321)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.2%(79)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$152,361
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $82,653 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$73,250
+81%since 2000
from $40,482 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
71.5%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
1.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 2.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.481
+8%since 2010
from 0.445 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services9.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Information4.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade4%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Wholesale trade1.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance0.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$633,800
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $240,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,532
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $691 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.0%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 72.1% in 2000
24.0% rent
Vacancy rate
4.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.1%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.0%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+23%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
29
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Swarthmore on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.8%(5,172)
Black4.7%(288)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(208)
Asian5.4%(335)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic70%(4,582)
Black10%(657)
Hispanic / Latino6.8%(443)
Asian6%(392)
Other7.3%(476)
Diversity Score
61
+38%since 2009
from 44 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican1.6%(105)
Mexican1.6%(103)
Ecuadorian1.2%(76)
Argentine0.4%(26)
Guatemalan0.2%(16)
Cuban0.2%(13)
Salvadoran0.1%(8)
Venezuelan0.1%(8)
Nicaraguan0.1%(7)
Honduran0.1%(5)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Asian origin
Chinese3%(194)
Filipino1.3%(83)
Korean0.6%(41)
Vietnamese0.6%(37)
Asian Indian0.6%(37)
Ancestry
Irish22.1%(1,449)
German16.5%(1,081)
English16.2%(1,059)
Italian12.1%(795)
Polish2.4%(156)
American2.3%(152)
Welsh1.7%(110)
Greek1.6%(103)
Scottish1.5%(100)
Russian1.3%(83)
French1.1%(70)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Armenian0.8%(54)
Hungarian0.8%(52)
Nigerian0.7%(44)
Ukrainian0.6%(40)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(34)
Austrian0.5%(33)
Lithuanian0.5%(33)
Swedish0.5%(30)
West Indian0.4%(25)
Swiss0.3%(21)
Arab0.3%(20)
Lebanese0.3%(20)
Dutch0.3%(19)
Ethiopian0.3%(18)
British0.2%(16)
Australian0.2%(13)
Danish0.1%(8)
Finnish0.1%(8)
Croatian0.1%(6)
Latvian0.1%(6)
Norwegian0.1%(6)
Kenyan0.1%(5)
Romanian0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Italian population · Largest Chinese population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
81.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
99.1%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 96.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
55.3%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 45.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.3 min
+67%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
41.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
7.9%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
21.1%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
24.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2011
from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 59.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.1%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
68.2%
−18.4 ptssince 2009
from 86.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
Female
48.9%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
Foreign born
11.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 5.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.3%
−97.2 ptssince 2013
from 98.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.1%
+7.6 ptssince 2017
from 89.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2016
from 89.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married48.4%(1,286)
Married46%(1,224)
Widowed1%(26)
Divorced4.6%(123)
Women 15+
Never married41.4%(1,132)
Married41.7%(1,140)
Widowed5.4%(148)
Divorced11.4%(312)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania?

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania has about 6,550 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania earns about $152,361 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Swarthmore, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $633,800, and the typical rent is about $1,532 a month.

How educated are people in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania?

About 81.5% of adults age 25 and over in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania?

About 1.8% of people in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Swarthmore, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania has grown since 1990. The population has added about 393 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy