Population 867,573 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Montgomery County
Household size in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.65 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Montgomery County run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across the Philadelphia area. Compared with other Pennsylvania counties, though, Montgomery County has larger households than most.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 39.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 40.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 40.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Montgomery County is 42.2 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.9, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 12.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 11.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Montgomery County: 8.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Compared with other Pennsylvania counties, Montgomery County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Montgomery County
Renters in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 30.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.4% | 32.1% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.2% | 32.7% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.6% | 33.2% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Montgomery County own their homes; 28.6% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Just over a third of owners (35.2%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.8 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 9.0% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 6.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Montgomery County: 5.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Philadelphia area. Only four of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1965 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1968 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Montgomery County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,143 | $1,049 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,251 | $1,147 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,406 | $1,281 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,793 | $1,631 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$650 | +$582 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in Montgomery County runs $1,793 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $650 a month from 2006–10, a 57% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Montgomery County
Bachelor's degrees in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.4% | 32.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.5% | 34.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.4% | 37.9% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.7% | 42.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +9.6 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Montgomery County is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (53.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.4 points, in line with the national trend. Only one other Pennsylvania county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.7% | 87.5% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.6% | 88.9% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 90.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Montgomery County: 95.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.4 points, as it has nationally. Only four of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 8.4% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 10.2% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Montgomery County than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Montgomery County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 2.57 | 42.2 | 8.1% | 28.6% | 5.6% | 1971 | $1,793 | 53.7% | 95.0% | 4.4% |
| Philadelphia County | 2.39 | 36.6 | 17.4% | 48.2% | 10.2% | 1953 | $1,433 | 35.0% | 87.3% | 8.7% |
| Bucks County | 2.62 | 44.8 | 8.0% | 22.2% | 4.2% | 1975 | $1,800 | 44.8% | 94.9% | 4.3% |
| Mercer County | 2.68 | 40.3 | 12.3% | 37.8% | 6.7% | 1967 | $1,780 | 45.3% | 88.4% | 6.6% |
| Lancaster County | 2.63 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 30.2% | 4.4% | 1975 | $1,407 | 32.3% | 87.2% | 3.4% |
| Monmouth County | 2.65 | 44.0 | 7.8% | 24.4% | 6.8% | 1974 | $2,113 | 51.0% | 93.9% | 5.3% |
| Cumberland County | 2.45 | 41.2 | 8.0% | 28.7% | 6.6% | 1978 | $1,389 | 41.0% | 93.7% | 3.5% |
| Bedford County | 2.44 | 46.4 | 6.6% | 22.5% | 16.6% | 1971 | $861 | 15.8% | 90.2% | 3.9% |
| Somerset County | 2.36 | 47.1 | 7.4% | 19.6% | 18.1% | 1962 | $812 | 18.5% | 90.8% | 4.9% |
| Washington County | 2.36 | 44.5 | 8.0% | 23.9% | 10.6% | 1969 | $1,098 | 33.9% | 94.6% | 4.8% |
| Ohio County | 2.19 | 43.5 | 10.6% | 33.6% | 14.3% | 1957 | $869 | 35.1% | 92.8% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Kern County, CA · Bergen County, NJ · Monroe County, NY · Milwaukee County, WI · Middlesex County, NJ · Macomb County, MI · New Haven County, CT · Hidalgo County, TX · Erie County, NY · El Paso County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Montgomery County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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