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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

West Chester

Pennsylvania · 17,861 residents · 1.846 sq mi
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The short version

West Chester has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $37,803. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 24%. Median home value is $141,100. At a median age of 24.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 24.6
US median: 35.2
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 8%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
17,861
−1%since 1990
from 18,041 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
24.6
−4%since 1990
from 25.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
18K18K19K20K21K1990201020202024West Chester
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.2%(748)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 93.5%(626)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 143.5%(619)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1915.2%(2,706)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2424.8%(4,426)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3416%(2,853)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4410.6%(1,893)
US avg: 16%
45 to 548.3%(1,486)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 645%(893)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 743.9%(690)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.6%(651)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.5%(270)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,803
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $31,262 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,073
+46%since 1990
from $13,082 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
21.4%
+4.4 ptssince 1990
from 17.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$141,100
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $116,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$691
−4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $544 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
37.2%
−2.2 ptssince 1990
from 39.4% in 1990
62.8% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Chester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic76.7%(13,837)
Black17.6%(3,184)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(1,286)
Asian1.2%(219)
2000
White, non-Hispanic71.6%(12,788)
Black16.4%(2,922)
Hispanic / Latino8.9%(1,596)
Asian1.5%(259)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican3.1%(633)
Mexican3%(622)
Dominican0.4%(81)
Spaniard0.3%(72)
Costa Rican0.3%(60)
Ecuadorian0.3%(58)
Guatemalan0.2%(39)
Chilean0.2%(36)
Argentine0.1%(29)
Uruguayan0.1%(25)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Panamanian0.1%(16)
Honduran0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Chinese0.5%(94)
Thai0.3%(64)
Asian Indian0.3%(64)
Taiwanese0.3%(59)
Vietnamese0.2%(50)
Korean0.2%(44)
Filipino0.2%(40)
Japanese0.1%(22)
Cambodian0.1%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(12)
Ancestry
Irish23.7%(4,908)
German16.1%(3,327)
Italian15.9%(3,293)
English10.3%(2,124)
Polish4.2%(877)
Scottish2.3%(468)
American2%(413)
Welsh1.6%(329)
French1.4%(298)
Russian1.4%(292)
Lithuanian1%(211)
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data
West Indian0.7%(154)
British0.7%(142)
Arab0.7%(139)
Hungarian0.7%(139)
Norwegian0.6%(119)
Swiss0.6%(117)
Czech0.5%(101)
Jamaican0.5%(93)
Greek0.4%(82)
Swedish0.4%(81)
Ukrainian0.4%(79)
Kenyan0.3%(64)
Syrian0.3%(60)
Slovak0.3%(60)
Canadian0.2%(45)
Croatian0.2%(40)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(40)
Portuguese0.2%(35)
Moroccan0.2%(31)
Dutch0.1%(30)
Israeli0.1%(25)
Nigerian0.1%(23)
Haitian0.1%(23)
Lebanese0.1%(22)
Ghanaian0.1%(22)
Romanian0.1%(21)
Armenian0.1%(20)
Ethiopian0.1%(20)
Bulgarian0.1%(19)
Finnish0.1%(15)
Egyptian0.1%(14)
Brazilian0.1%(14)
Belgian0%(10)
Iranian0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.0%
+7.3 ptssince 1990
from 31.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
84.1%
+3.6 ptssince 1990
from 80.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
13.1%
+1.5 ptssince 1990
from 11.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.9 min
−18%since 1990
from 16.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married61.1%(4,533)
Married29.6%(2,197)
Widowed2.6%(193)
Divorced6.7%(499)
Women 15+
Never married62.2%(5,238)
Married23.5%(1,983)
Widowed8.1%(684)
Divorced6.1%(516)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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Compare West Chester to nearby cities

WEST CHESTER VS
Hockessin
Income$171,204+353%
Home value$568,800+303%
Population13,439−31%
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WEST CHESTER VS
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Income$74,712+98%
Home value$276,600+96%
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WEST CHESTER VS
Wilmington
Income$58,671+55%
Home value$231,400+64%
Population73,512+275%
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WEST CHESTER VS
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Income$102,434+171%
Home value$340,300+141%
Population12,431−37%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in West Chester, Pennsylvania?

West Chester, Pennsylvania has about 17,861 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in West Chester, Pennsylvania earns about $37,803 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 $141,100, and the typical rent is about $691 a month.

How educated are people in West Chester, Pennsylvania?

About 39.0% 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 21.4% of people in West Chester, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Chester, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, West Chester, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 180 residents, a change of about -1 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 →