What are the schools like in Swarthmore, PA?

Swarthmore is served primarily by Ridley SD. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Swarthmore?

The median household income in Swarthmore, PA is $138,679 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.1%.

What is the weather like in Swarthmore, PA?

Swarthmore has an average high temperature of 41.3°F in January and 87.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.1 inches.

Swarthmore, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Swarthmore, PA affordable or expensive?

Swarthmore's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Swarthmore is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $504,900 and the median rent is $1,376 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Swarthmore, PA?

Swarthmore has a violent crime rate of 91.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 658.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Swarthmore, PA a Good Place to Live?

Swarthmore is a small town of 6,507 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $138,679 and a 11.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Swarthmore stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Swarthmore is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Swarthmore city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.5

Swarthmore's overall cost of living index is 103.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Swarthmore costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Swarthmore, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$504,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,376	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$138,679	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Swarthmore's violent crime rate is 91.8 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

91.8 /100k

Property Crime

658.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Swarthmore is served primarily by Ridley SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Swarthmore, PA	National Avg
School District	Ridley SD	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	80.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Swarthmore sees average highs of 41.3°F in January and 87.8°F in July, with 44.1 inches of annual precipitation and 23.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Swarthmore, PA
Average High — January	41.3°F
Average High — July	87.8°F
Annual Precipitation	44.1"
Annual Snowfall	23.1"

Demographics

Metric	Swarthmore, PA	National Avg
Population	6,507	—
Median Age	34.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	7.7%	6.3%
Under 18	19.3%	22.2%
65 and over	17.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rutledge, PA 1 mi Folsom, PA 1 mi Morton, PA 1 mi Woodlyn, PA 2 mi Rose Valley, PA 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Swarthmore

Swarthmore, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

19081

Swarthmore vs Other Cities

Swarthmore, PA vs Rutledge, PA Swarthmore, PA vs Folsom, PA Swarthmore, PA vs Morton, PA Swarthmore, PA vs Woodlyn, PA Swarthmore, PA vs Rose Valley, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Swarthmore, PA affordable or expensive?

Swarthmore's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Swarthmore roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $504,900 and median rent is $1,376/month.

What is the crime rate in Swarthmore, PA?

Swarthmore's violent crime rate is 91.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 658.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Swarthmore?

Public schools in Swarthmore are operated by Ridley SD. The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 80.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Swarthmore, PA a good place to live?

Swarthmore, PA has a population of 6,507, a median household income of $138,679, and an unemployment rate of 11.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Swarthmore?

Swarthmore averages 41.3°F in January and 87.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.1 inches with about 23.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Swarthmore?

Swarthmore, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 19081.

What is the population of Swarthmore?

The population of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is 6,507 with a median age of 34.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Swarthmore?

Key numbers for living in Swarthmore: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $504,900, median household income $138,679, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Swarthmore side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.