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Swarthmore, PA
Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. ZIP codes: 19081.
Population
6,550
Land area
1.4sq mi
People per sq mi
4,679
ZIP codes
1
Swarthmore and its ZIP codes
Swarthmore at a glance
- Swarthmore is about 16 times as dense as Pennsylvania as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 187th among 1,991 cities and towns in Pennsylvania.
- The median household income is $152,361, 95% above the Pennsylvania median of $77,971.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $633,800 (about 2.5 times the Pennsylvania figure) and median rent is $1,532 a month.
Local data for Swarthmore, PA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Swarthmore, PA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$152,361
Poverty rate
1.8%
Median home value
$633,800
Median rent
$1,532/mo
Homeownership
76.0%
Bachelor's or higher
81.5%
Median age
28.3
Average commute
26.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,449), German Americans (1,081), Italian Americans (795).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Delaware County. PPP loans are for Swarthmore.
Unemployment rate
3.3%
Sep 2026, -1.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$74,852
219,222 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$85,094
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$5.9B
FY 2026, $10,262 per person
PPP loans
$19.2M
220 loans, 2,415 jobs reported
How people get to work
Swarthmore, PA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone41.9%
- Carpooled4.0%
- Public transit7.9%
- Walked24.5%
- Bicycle0.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home21.1%
Average one-way commute: 26.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Swarthmore, PA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
1,313
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
1,153
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 26°F
44.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
ZIP codes in Swarthmore
1 in or overlapping Swarthmore. Population shown
Cities near Swarthmore
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| RutledgeBorough | 1.2 mi | 0.1 |
| FolsomCensus-designated place | 1.4 mi | 1.2 |
| MortonBorough | 1.4 mi | 0.4 |
| WoodlynCensus-designated place | 1.6 mi | 1.7 |
| Rose ValleyBorough | 2 mi | 0.7 |
| Ridley ParkBorough | 2.1 mi | 1.1 |
| Prospect ParkBorough | 2.5 mi | 0.7 |
| MediaBorough | 2.5 mi | 0.8 |
| ParksideBorough | 2.8 mi | 0.2 |
| BrookhavenBorough | 3 mi | 1.7 |
| NorwoodBorough | 3.1 mi | 0.8 |
| GlenoldenBorough | 3.1 mi | 1 |
| EddystoneBorough | 3.2 mi | 1 |
| Clifton HeightsBorough | 3.4 mi | 0.6 |
| UplandBorough | 3.5 mi | 0.6 |
| AldanBorough | 3.7 mi | 0.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Swarthmore, PA in?
- Swarthmore is in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
- What ZIP codes are in Swarthmore, PA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Swarthmore include 19081.
- What is the population of Swarthmore, PA?
- About 6,550 people live in Swarthmore, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Swarthmore?
- Nearby places include Rutledge (1.2 mi), Folsom (1.4 mi), Morton (1.4 mi), Woodlyn (1.6 mi), Rose Valley (2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023