C+

Norristown, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 63/100

Population: 86,013 · 2 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Norristown, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes covering 86,013 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (63/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $87,487, median home value of $306,606, median rent of $1,594 per month, and 39.5% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Norristown, PA include income. Unemployment currently reads 6.0% and poverty 10.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$87,487
Median household income
Education B-
39.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.5x
Home value $306,606 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,810/mo
2BR fair market rent (25% 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
$87,487
▲ 41% vs national
Per Capita Income
$45,387
Unemployment Rate
6.0%
Poverty Rate
10.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$306,606
▲ 11% vs national
Median Rent
$1,594/mo
Owner Occupied
59.8%
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+
39.5%
▲ 10 ppt vs national
High School+
68.6%
Median Age
40.6
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Norristown, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (63/100), aggregated from 2 ZIP codes with a total population of 86,013. This area performs well in income. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Norristown ZIP Codes
View all 2 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Norristown, PA affordable?
Norristown, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (63/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $87,487. Median home value is $306,606.
What is the cost of living in Norristown?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,594/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,810/mo. Median home value $306,606.
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 →