Population 39,581 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Upper Darby
Household size in Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.91 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.01 | 2.68 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.93 | 2.65 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.89 | 2.57 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Upper Darby average 2.89 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 25 have larger households.
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 Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.3 | 39.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.6 | 40.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.9 | 40.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Upper Darby is young: half of its residents are under 34.9, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.6, as it has nationally. Only 13 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 Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 12.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 11.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 22.6% | 11.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Upper Darby: 19.3% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Upper Darby
Renters in Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8% | 30.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 48.0% | 32.1% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.2% | 32.7% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.8% | 33.2% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Upper Darby than nationally: 48.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Nearly four in ten owners (37.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 7.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 have a higher share of renters.
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 Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 9.0% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 6.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Upper Darby: 7.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Philadelphia area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, 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 Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1944 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1943 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1944 | 1965 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1944 | 1968 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Upper Darby is a place of older homes: half were built before 1944, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Only nine of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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 Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $843 | $1,049 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $958 | $1,147 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,041 | $1,281 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,354 | $1,631 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$511 | +$582 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Upper Darby costs $1,354 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $511 a month from 2006–10, a 61% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 38.9% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the center.
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 Upper Darby
Bachelor's degrees in Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.2% | 32.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 34.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.2% | 37.9% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 42.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +9.6 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Upper Darby: 21.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 0.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
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 Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.1% | 87.5% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.4% | 88.9% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.5% | 90.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.7% | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Upper Darby never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 4.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 30 have a lower 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 Upper Darby
| Period | Upper Darby | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 8.4% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 10.2% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Upper Darby: 9.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only 17 of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. 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).
Upper Darby 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Darby | 2.89 | 34.9 | 19.3% | 48.8% | 7.2% | 1944 | $1,354 | 21.9% | 85.7% | 9.2% |
| Millbourne | 2.59 | 37.6 | 6.7% | 65.8% | 12.0% | 1944 | $1,016 | 29.9% | 84.7% | 3.0% |
| East Lansdowne | 2.31 | 35.2 | 14.4% | 36.4% | 7.8% | 1938 | $1,626 | 22.7% | 89.7% | 5.7% |
| Lansdowne | 2.46 | 40.4 | 19.8% | 35.6% | 5.6% | 1945 | $1,284 | 35.1% | 92.5% | 7.5% |
| Drexel Hill | 2.65 | 36.9 | 12.9% | 35.5% | 6.4% | 1949 | $1,325 | 45.8% | 93.7% | 7.5% |
| Yeadon | 2.38 | 44.4 | 14.7% | 55.0% | 4.9% | 1953 | $1,296 | 26.3% | 95.5% | 10.6% |
| Darby | 2.64 | 34.4 | 30.2% | 50.0% | 13.5% | 1947 | $1,305 | 15.1% | 88.4% | 17.9% |
| Havertown | 2.79 | 40.2 | 5.8% | 11.5% | 3.4% | 1948 | $1,574 | 60.8% | 96.7% | 4.6% |
| Aldan | 2.58 | 40.1 | 13.0% | 27.6% | 5.8% | 1955 | $1,345 | 29.2% | 92.9% | 4.5% |
| Wynnewood | 2.61 | 43.9 | 5.5% | 23.7% | 2.7% | 1949 | $1,848 | 80.4% | 98.6% | 4.2% |
| Clifton Heights | 2.49 | 38.2 | 10.7% | 34.0% | 5.4% | 1958 | $1,424 | 27.1% | 94.2% | 11.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Shelton, CT · Hallandale Beach, FL · Hermitage, TN · Hope Mills, NC · Howell, NJ · Keizer, OR · La Porte, IN · La Vergne, TN · Ladson, SC · Lincoln Park, MI
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 Upper Darby. 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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