C-

Bensalem, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 53/100

Population: 55,493 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Bensalem, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 55,493 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (53/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $83,223, median home value of $362,800, median rent of $1,622 per month, and 32.1% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,810 per month (studio $1,397, 1BR $1,520, 3BR $2,170, 4BR $2,423).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, commute. Unemployment currently reads 4.6% and poverty 13.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$83,223
Median household income
Education C-
32.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.4x
Home value $362,800 vs income
Commute F
29 min
Average commute time
Rent C+
$1,810/mo
2BR fair market rent (26% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$83,223
▲ 34% vs national
Per Capita Income
$44,490
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Poverty Rate
13.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$362,800
▲ 32% vs national
Median Rent
$1,622/mo
Owner Occupied
60.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,810/mo
▲ 51% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,397
1BR
$1,520
2BR
$1,810
3BR
$2,170
4BR
$2,423

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
32.1%
▲ 2 ppt vs national
High School+
65.3%
Median Age
42.2
Avg. Commute
29 min
▲ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Bensalem, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (53/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 55,493. Challenges include housing and commute. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Bensalem ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Bensalem, PA affordable?
Bensalem, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (53/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $83,223. Median home value is $362,800.
What is the cost of living in Bensalem?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,622/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,810/mo. Median home value $362,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →