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CITY

West Chester

Pennsylvania · 19,591 residents (2025 est.) · 1.846 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#103Most densely populatedof 4,89110,613#160Youngest by median ageof 6,82625.3
The short version

West Chester has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,385. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $490,700. At a median age of 25.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Average income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,666
+16%since 2000
from 17,861 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
11,195 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 9,676 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
25.3
+3%since 2000
from 24.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,591 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K18K19K20K21K1990201020202024West Chester
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,385
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,803 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,502
+133%since 2000
from $19,073 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.1%
+24.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 21.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+2%since 2010
from 0.480 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$490,700
+91%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $141,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,731
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $691 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
35.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 37.2% in 2000
64.6% rent
Vacancy rate
3.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
−14.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.3
+68%since 2000
from 3.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
72
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Chester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic71.6%(12,788)
Black16.4%(2,922)
Hispanic / Latino8.9%(1,596)
Asian1.5%(259)
Other0%
Diversity Score54.2%(9,685)
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.7%(15,034)
Black13.5%(2,780)
Hispanic / Latino8.3%(1,712)
Asian2.1%(432)
Other3.4%(708)
Diversity Score55.5%(11,475)
Diversity Score
56
+2%since 2000
from 54 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
59.1%
+20.1 ptssince 2000
from 39.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.5%
+11.4 ptssince 2000
from 84.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.3%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.9 min
+51%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
59.9%
−10.2 ptssince 2009
from 70.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
17.2%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
13.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 66.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
50.6%
−17.0 ptssince 2009
from 67.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Female
55.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.5%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.1%
+4.7 ptssince 2012
from 6.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−82.2 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.5%
+10.1 ptssince 2017
from 80.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2016
from 89.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2016
from 7.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare West Chester to nearby cities

WEST CHESTER VS
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Income$171,204+118%
Home value$568,800+16%
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WEST CHESTER VS
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Income$74,712−5%
Home value$276,600−44%
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WEST CHESTER VS
Wilmington
Income$58,671−25%
Home value$231,400−53%
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WEST CHESTER VS
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Income$102,434+31%
Home value$340,300−31%
Population12,431−37%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in West Chester, Pennsylvania?

West Chester, Pennsylvania has about 20,666 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Chester, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in West Chester, Pennsylvania earns about $78,385 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Chester, Pennsylvania expensive?

In West Chester, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $490,700, and the typical rent is about $1,731 a month.

How educated are people in West Chester, Pennsylvania?

About 59.1% of adults age 25 and over in West Chester, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Chester, Pennsylvania?

About 20.4% of people in West Chester, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Chester, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, West Chester, Pennsylvania has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,625 residents, a change of about 15 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 →