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 High-density area
- $134,135
- Median income Above-median income area
- $378,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 64.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 19081 (Swarthmore, PA) rose +8.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 256.0 in 2023 to 276.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $63,105. The poverty rate is 8.9%, with unemployment at 6.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $378,600 (67% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while 79.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,535.
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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Delaware County, so 19081 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
32 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
29 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
27 establishments
- Construction
Construction
20 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
15 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, 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
Who lives in ZIP 19081?
34.8
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
9.0%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$63,105
Per Capita Income
8.9%
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Unemployment Rate
26.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 19081 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Swarthmore, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$134,135 Top 5% higher than 95% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
3,561housing units
3,561
Total Housing Units
3,415
Occupied Units
146
Vacant Units
2.45
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$378,600
Median Home Value
+67% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 19064
Springfield (19064)
24,459 residents
- 19036
Glenolden (19036)
12,942 residents
- 19086
Wallingford (19086)
11,420 residents
- 19078
Ridley Park (19078)
11,067 residents
- 19081
Swarthmore (19081)
10,337 residents
- 19033 7,777
Folsom (19033)
7,777 residents
- 19070 7,277
Morton (19070)
7,277 residents
- 19076 6,525
Prospect Park (19076)
6,525 residents
- 19094 4,406
Woodlyn (19094)
4,406 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19081 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 19081 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19086
Wallingford (19086)
$148,920 median income
- 19064
Springfield (19064)
$136,893 median income
- 19081
Swarthmore (19081)
$134,135 median income
- 19033
Folsom (19033)
$114,400 median income
- 19070
Morton (19070)
$95,795 median income
- 19043
Holmes (19043)
$95,377 median income
- 19078
Ridley Park (19078)
$94,681 median income
- 19036
Glenolden (19036)
$79,144 median income
- 19076
Prospect Park (19076)
$64,231 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 19081, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (10,337 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Delaware County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 19081's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 19081 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Swarthmore, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.