West Chester is home to 20,666 people in Pennsylvania. This skews young, with a median age of 25.3. 35% of homes are owner-occupied. This is an unusually credentialed place: 59% of adults have a four-year degree. 68% were living in the same home a year earlier. There are 11,195 people per square mile.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $78,385, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 25.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
59% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 91%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about West Chester
What changed most since 1990
Adults with a bachelor's degree31.7% → 59.1%(+27.4 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
West Chester's population equals 3.8% of Chester County's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 13% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 12% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.5%(117)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)4%(19)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era47.8%(228)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 477 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
West Chester, decade by decade
West Chester population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
18,041
$75,031
$278,888
31.7%
52.4
2000
17,861
$68,864
$257,036
39.0%
56.5
2010
18,461
$64,810
$426,968
43.9%
56.2
2020
18,671
$75,258
$472,210
53.3%
56.6
2024
20,666
$78,385
$490,700
59.1%
55.5
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
