PlainZIP

Swarthmore, PA · standard

ZIP Code 19081

Delaware County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

10,337
1,787/sq mi
$134,135
Median income
$378,600
Median home value
64.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Swarthmore pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 6%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 23%
home value, US ZIPs
1,787
people per sq mi
80%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19081 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 19081 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Swarthmore, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, home to 10,337 residents across 5.8 square miles, a density of 1,787 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 19081 skews affluent, with a median household income of $134,135 (72% above the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $63,105. The poverty rate stands at 8.9% and the unemployment rate at 6.4%. Housing costs here run $378,600 for a typical home value (67% above the state average), with rent averaging $1,535 a month; 79.9% of homes are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 64.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.8, and the average commute is 26 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Delaware County, letting you compare 19081 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 19081

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Swarthmore, PA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19081.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 19081, Swarthmore, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

10,337

Population

5.8

Area (sq mi)

1,787

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 19081?

34.8

Median Age

49.9%

Male

50.1%

Female

9.0%

Foreign-Born

White 79.8%
African American 6.8%
Asian 4.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.4%
Hispanic or Latino 4.8%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$134,135

Median Household Income

+72% vs state

$63,105

Per Capita Income

8.9%

Poverty Rate

6.4%

Unemployment Rate

26.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 19081 ranks nationally

Swarthmore, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$134,135 Top 6% higher than 94% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 82.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 64.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,561

Total Housing Units

3,415

Occupied Units

146

Vacant Units

2.45

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 79.9%
Renter 20.1%

$378,600

Median Home Value

+67% vs state

$1,535

Median Rent

1954

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+8.2%

YoY Change (2024)

277

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+177%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 19081 have increased 8.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +177% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.3% 186
2021 +8.4% 201
2022 +14.4% 230
2023 +11.2% 256
2024 +8.2% 277

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 182 business establishments in ZIP 19081, employing approximately 3,784 people with a combined annual payroll of $171,302,000.

182

Businesses

3,784

Employees

$171.3M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 32 17.6%
Health care and social assistance 29 15.9%
Other services (except public administration) 27 14.8%
Construction 20 11.0%
Retail trade 15 8.2%
Accommodation and food services 14 7.7%
Educational services 9 5.0%
Finance and insurance 7 3.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 3.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 3.3%
Information 5 2.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 2.8%
Wholesale trade 4 2.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 19081 vs 19094 →

ZIP 19081 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19081 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 19081 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 19081 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
19094 Woodlyn, PA 4,406 1.6 mi
19033 Folsom, PA 7,777 1.1 mi
19086 Wallingford, PA 11,420 1.3 mi
19070 Morton, PA 7,277 1.3 mi
19043 Holmes, PA 2,664 2.0 mi
19064 Springfield, PA 24,459 2.5 mi
19022 Crum Lynne, PA 3,669 2.6 mi
19078 Ridley Park, PA 11,067 2.1 mi
19076 Prospect Park, PA 6,525 2.3 mi
19036 Glenolden, PA 12,942 2.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Delaware County

19082 standard
Upper Darby, PA
Pop: 40,997
19083 standard
Havertown, PA
Pop: 35,878
19063 standard
Media, PA
Pop: 35,704
19013 standard
Chester, PA
Pop: 35,130
19026 standard
Drexel Hill, PA
Pop: 30,738
19050 standard
Lansdowne, PA
Pop: 28,073

Related Areas

Delaware County Swarthmore, PA Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 19081 in? ▼
ZIP code 19081 (Swarthmore) is located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Delaware County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/delaware-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 19081? ▼
ZIP code 19081 in Swarthmore, PA has a population of 10,337 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19081? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 19081 is $134,135, which is 76% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19081? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 19081 is $378,600, which is 36% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19081? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 19081 is White at 79.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19081? ▼
ZIP code 19081 has 182 business establishments employing approximately 3,784 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19081? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19081 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (32), Health care and social assistance (29), Other services (except public administration) (27). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19081? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19081 increased by 8.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 177%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 19081? ▼
In ZIP code 19081, 82.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 64.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 19081? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 19081 is 26.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 19081? ▼
In ZIP code 19081, approximately 79.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19081? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19081 is 8.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.