Population 12,397 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Swarthmore
Household size in Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.68 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.65 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.57 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Swarthmore 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 edged down from 2.43 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.2 | 39.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.7 | 40.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.6 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Swarthmore is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.7, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 38.3, even as the national median rose. Only 43 of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
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 Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 12.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 11.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 11.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.3% of households in Swarthmore, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 3.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Swarthmore
Renters in Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 30.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 32.1% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 32.7% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 33.2% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Swarthmore is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 42.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.1 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 9.0% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.5% of homes in Swarthmore are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Philadelphia area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.8 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1965 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1968 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Swarthmore is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1953, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Swarthmore has older homes than at least four in five Pennsylvania cities.
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 Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,052 | $1,049 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,086 | $1,147 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,117 | $1,281 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,488 | $1,631 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$436 | +$582 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in Swarthmore runs $1,488 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $436 a month from 2006–10, a 41% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 Swarthmore
Bachelor's degrees in Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.6% | 32.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.3% | 34.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 56.8% | 37.9% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.6% | 42.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +9.6 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Swarthmore: 58.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.4% | 87.5% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.6% | 88.9% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.6% | 90.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Swarthmore: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Swarthmore
| Period | Swarthmore | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 8.4% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 10.2% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Swarthmore is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Swarthmore compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swarthmore | 2.39 | 37.7 | 8.3% | 21.9% | 5.5% | 1953 | $1,488 | 58.6% | 96.5% | 5.8% |
| Folsom | 2.81 | 39.1 | 12.6% | 11.7% | 5.3% | 1957 | $1,279 | 33.9% | 92.9% | 5.3% |
| Rutledge | 2.84 | 44.8 | 2.8% | 12.5% | 1.5% | 1938 | $1,679 | 56.2% | 96.8% | 2.8% |
| Morton | 2.38 | 43.1 | 13.9% | 24.1% | 0.9% | 1957 | $1,348 | 37.5% | 93.9% | 2.9% |
| Wallingford | 2.91 | 42.2 | 9.3% | 10.7% | 2.3% | 1962 | $2,072 | 64.4% | 95.3% | 3.5% |
| Woodlyn | 2.69 | 33.9 | 11.9% | 34.5% | 7.2% | 1959 | $1,444 | 29.6% | 92.6% | 8.4% |
| Ridley Park | 2.45 | 39.8 | 9.8% | 34.1% | 4.7% | 1956 | $1,257 | 30.0% | 94.4% | 2.9% |
| Holmes | 2.44 | 45.4 | 9.3% | 29.8% | 4.9% | 1968 | $1,190 | 27.2% | 95.8% | 10.2% |
| Rose Valley | 3.00 | 42.9 | 5.7% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 1963 | $2,900 | 87.4% | 99.9% | 1.5% |
| Prospect Park | 2.61 | 37.0 | 26.1% | 42.0% | 8.5% | 1952 | $1,273 | 21.6% | 94.0% | 7.2% |
| Crum Lynne | 2.65 | 36.8 | 9.3% | 48.0% | 6.7% | 1952 | $1,217 | 14.5% | 85.4% | 10.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Port Jefferson Station, NY · Mulberry, FL · Murphysboro, IL · Polk City, FL · Ponte Vedra Beach, FL · Pontiac, IL · Poquoson, VA · Port Allen, LA · Port Clinton, OH · Mount Vernon, VA
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 Swarthmore. 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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