The Town FilesSwarthmore, Pennsylvania
Borough in Delaware County · population 6,543 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $633,800
- Household income
- $152,361
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 28.3
Swarthmore is a borough of 6,543 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $633,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Swarthmore ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Swarthmore is worth $633,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $152,361, which is more affordable than 6% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,532 a month. 76.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swarthmore | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $633,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,532 | $996 |
| Median household income | $152,361 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Swarthmore
| People | Swarthmore | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 81.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.5% | — |
| Work from home | 21.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Swarthmore
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 44.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swarthmore since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 31, 2019 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Delaware County since 1996
Delaware County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Delaware County
Delaware County had 218,536 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,172 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Swarthmore itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Swarthmore
2 public schools with 912 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swarthmore-Rutledge Sch | K-5 | 551 | 13.8 |
| Grace Park El Sch | K-5 | 361 | 13.4 |
Towns near Swarthmore
- Nether Providence, PA0.9 mi · 14,525 people · home $458,600
- Folsom, PA1.3 mi · 8,287 people · home $280,100
- Morton, PA1.3 mi · 2,778 people · home $267,400
- Ridley, PA1.6 mi · 31,053 people · home $265,200
- Woodlyn, PA1.7 mi · 9,685 people · home $230,400
- Springfield, PA1.9 mi · 25,070 people · home $414,900
- Ridley Park, PA2.1 mi · 7,186 people · home $281,700
- Media, PA2.4 mi · 5,901 people · home $467,800
Swarthmore questions
Is Swarthmore, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swarthmore scores better for retirees than 86% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 2%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.3).
How much does a house cost in Swarthmore?
The median owner-occupied home in Swarthmore is valued at $633,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $152,361, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,532 a month.
What is the weather like in Swarthmore?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does Swarthmore get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swarthmore since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 31, 2019. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)