The Philadelphia metro area: Bucks, Burlington, Camden, Cecil, Chester, Delaware, Gloucester, Montgomery, New Castle, Philadelphia and Salem counties · Population 6,272,014 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Philadelphia area
Household size in the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.65 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.57 people per household, the Philadelphia area sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Pennsylvania overall, where it has 2.46 people. Household size has edged down from 2.64 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in the Philadelphia area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in Pennsylvania overall, where the median age is 42.0. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.5, as it has nationally.
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 the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in the Philadelphia area (12.1%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Pennsylvania overall (10.7%).
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 the Philadelphia area
Renters in the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.7% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.2% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in the Philadelphia area is about as common as it is nationally: 33.2% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.0 points, as it has nationally.
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 the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Philadelphia area: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The Philadelphia area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, 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 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,049 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,147 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,281 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,631 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$582 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in the Philadelphia area runs $1,631 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in Pennsylvania overall ($1,323). Rents are up $582 a month from 2006–10, a 55% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 32.5% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 the Philadelphia area
Bachelor's degrees in the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.9% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in the Philadelphia area (42.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.6 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
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 the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Philadelphia area is a bit above the national rate: 91.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Pennsylvania comes in at about the same level. The share with a diploma has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the Philadelphia area
| Period | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in the Philadelphia area than nationally: unemployment was 6.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Largest cities in the Philadelphia area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia area (all) | 2.57 | 40.4 | 12.1% | 33.2% | 6.9% | 1968 | $1,631 | 42.3% | 91.9% | 6.1% |
| Wilmington | 2.45 | 42.4 | 14.9% | 33.8% | 7.2% | 1961 | $1,498 | 40.4% | 91.4% | 5.1% |
| Newark | 2.62 | 37.7 | 10.8% | 39.0% | 7.8% | 1984 | $1,657 | 45.2% | 93.7% | 4.5% |
| West Chester | 2.50 | 41.8 | 4.8% | 30.1% | 4.4% | 1980 | $1,982 | 66.2% | 94.2% | 4.0% |
| Norristown | 2.65 | 41.7 | 12.3% | 38.3% | 7.8% | 1968 | $1,675 | 38.3% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Camden | 2.97 | 33.2 | 34.2% | 66.1% | 10.2% | 1954 | $1,248 | 11.2% | 69.4% | 14.3% |
| Pottstown | 2.62 | 40.6 | 13.8% | 29.2% | 6.6% | 1970 | $1,495 | 32.9% | 92.0% | 5.1% |
| Levittown | 2.86 | 40.7 | 11.8% | 18.4% | 3.3% | 1958 | $1,567 | 26.0% | 92.4% | 4.8% |
| Lansdale | 2.56 | 44.1 | 7.4% | 32.9% | 3.6% | 1975 | $2,074 | 51.9% | 92.7% | 3.8% |
| Bensalem | 2.55 | 42.6 | 9.4% | 38.8% | 4.6% | 1973 | $1,628 | 31.8% | 89.0% | 4.3% |
| New Castle | 2.69 | 39.8 | 15.4% | 35.6% | 6.0% | 1973 | $1,433 | 23.9% | 90.4% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: San Francisco area · Phoenix area · Boston area · Atlanta area · Miami area · Washington area · Houston area · Dallas area · Chicago area · Los Angeles area
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 the Philadelphia area. 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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