Population 1,579,706 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Philadelphia County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Philadelphia County
Household size in Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.64 | 2.68 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.65 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.57 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Philadelphia County are small: just 2.39 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.58 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 39.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.5 | 40.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.6 | 40.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Philadelphia County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.4, in line with the national trend. Philadelphia County has the youngest population of any Pennsylvania county.
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 Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 12.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 11.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 11.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Philadelphia County: 17.4% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Philadelphia County has the highest share of single-parent households of any Pennsylvania county.
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 Philadelphia County
Renters in Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.7% | 30.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 47.1% | 32.1% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.0% | 32.7% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.2% | 33.2% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Philadelphia County than nationally: 48.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Philadelphia County has the highest share of renters of any Pennsylvania county.
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 Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 9.0% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 6.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Philadelphia County is close to the national rate: 10.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Philadelphia area overall (6.9%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1948 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1949 | 1965 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1968 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Philadelphia County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, 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 1948 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Philadelphia County has the oldest homes of any Pennsylvania county.
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 Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $852 | $1,049 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $952 | $1,147 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,093 | $1,281 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,433 | $1,631 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$581 | +$582 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in Philadelphia County runs $1,433 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $581 a month since 2006–10, up 68%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 34.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the north; the highest are in the south.
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 Philadelphia County
Bachelor's degrees in Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 32.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 34.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.4% | 37.9% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.0% | 42.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.0 pts | +9.6 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Philadelphia County as nationally: 35.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider Philadelphia area (42.3%). The share with a degree is up 12.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.2% | 87.5% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.2% | 88.9% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.3% | 90.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.3% | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Philadelphia County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 8.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few Pennsylvania counties have a lower share of high school graduates: only five of 67.
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 Philadelphia County
| Period | Philadelphia County | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 8.4% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 10.2% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Philadelphia County runs well above the national rate: 8.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. No other Pennsylvania county has higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Philadelphia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County | 2.39 | 36.6 | 17.4% | 48.2% | 10.2% | 1953 | $1,433 | 35.0% | 87.3% | 8.7% |
| Delaware County | 2.67 | 40.5 | 11.5% | 30.4% | 6.5% | 1959 | $1,576 | 42.4% | 93.4% | 6.8% |
| Montgomery County | 2.57 | 42.2 | 8.1% | 28.6% | 5.6% | 1971 | $1,793 | 53.7% | 95.0% | 4.4% |
| Burlington County | 2.67 | 42.4 | 9.7% | 23.9% | 6.2% | 1977 | $1,826 | 43.2% | 94.3% | 5.4% |
| Chester County | 2.68 | 42.0 | 7.4% | 24.9% | 4.8% | 1983 | $1,842 | 57.9% | 94.2% | 3.7% |
| Ocean County | 3.25 | 40.1 | 8.2% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 1985 | $1,854 | 34.8% | 92.9% | 5.5% |
| Lancaster County | 2.63 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 30.2% | 4.4% | 1975 | $1,407 | 32.3% | 87.2% | 3.4% |
| York County | 2.56 | 42.2 | 11.4% | 23.7% | 5.9% | 1976 | $1,277 | 27.8% | 92.0% | 4.6% |
| Fulton County | 2.29 | 47.0 | 8.5% | 22.4% | 11.4% | 1976 | $821 | 17.7% | 89.3% | 2.9% |
| 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% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Riverside County, CA · Queens County, NY · Marion County, IN · Middlesex County, MA · Nassau County, NY · Gwinnett County, GA · Fulton County, GA · Fresno County, CA · Franklin County, OH · Fort Bend 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 Philadelphia 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.