Philadelphia, PA · standard
ZIP Code 19138
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 32,273
- 7,233/sq mi High-density area
- $57,744
- Median income Below-median income area
- $177,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 19.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Philadelphia pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a suburban-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 25th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 37th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 7,233
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19138 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 19138 (Philadelphia, PA) rose +4.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 330.7 in 2023 to 346.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 19138 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, with 32,273 residents across 4.5 square miles, a density of 7,233 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 19138 reports a modest median household income of $57,744 (26% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,101. Economic pressure is pronounced: 21.8% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 11.0%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $177,000 (22% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $1,169; owner occupancy is 70.9%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.6, and the average commute is 33 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Philadelphia County, so 19138 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 19138
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Philadelphia, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19138.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
49 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
47 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
33 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
26 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 14
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
14 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 19138, Philadelphia, 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
32,273
Population
4.5
Area (sq mi)
7,233
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 19138?
39.6
Median Age
44.6%
Male
55.4%
Female
6.5%
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?
$57,744
Median Household Income
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$31,101
Per Capita Income
21.8%
Poverty Rate
11.0%
Unemployment Rate
32.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 19138 ranks nationally
Philadelphia, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$57,744 25th percentile higher than 25% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
13,552housing units
13,552
Total Housing Units
12,791
Occupied Units
761
Vacant Units
2.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$177,000
Median Home Value
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$1,169
Median Rent
1943
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
+4.8%
YoY Change (2024)
346
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+246%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 19138 have increased 4.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +246% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.9% | 253 |
| 2021 | +18.0% | 299 |
| 2022 | +13.9% | 341 |
| 2023 | -3.0% | 331 |
| 2024 | +4.8% | 346 |
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 225 business establishments in ZIP 19138, employing approximately 2,419 people with a combined annual payroll of $89,735,000.
225
Businesses
2,419
Employees
$89.7M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 49 | 21.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 47 | 20.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 33 | 14.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 26 | 11.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 6.2% |
| Educational services | 14 | 6.2% |
| Construction | 10 | 4.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 3.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 3.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 6 | 2.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.3% |
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 19138 vs 19126 →
ZIP 19138 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19140
Philadelphia (19140)
54,133 residents
- 19144
Philadelphia (19144)
43,329 residents
- 19138
Philadelphia (19138)
32,273 residents
- 19038
Glenside (19038)
31,595 residents
- 19141
Philadelphia (19141)
31,376 residents
- 19119
Philadelphia (19119)
27,035 residents
- 19150
Philadelphia (19150)
23,378 residents
- 19027 19,067
Elkins Park (19027)
19,067 residents
- 19126 15,758
Philadelphia (19126)
15,758 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19138 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 19138 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19012
Cheltenham (19012)
$125,625 median income
- 19038
Glenside (19038)
$117,683 median income
- 19027
Elkins Park (19027)
$106,066 median income
- 19095
Wyncote (19095)
$97,727 median income
- 19119
Philadelphia (19119)
$92,651 median income
- 19150
Philadelphia (19150)
$66,936 median income
- 19138
Philadelphia (19138)
$57,744 median income
- 19126
Philadelphia (19126)
$53,176 median income
- 19144
Philadelphia (19144)
$53,161 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 19138 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19126 | Philadelphia, PA | 15,758 | 1.1 mi |
| 19150 | Philadelphia, PA | 23,378 | 1.3 mi |
| 19141 | Philadelphia, PA | 31,376 | 1.5 mi |
| 19119 | Philadelphia, PA | 27,035 | 1.7 mi |
| 19095 | Wyncote, PA | 7,063 | 2.1 mi |
| 19144 | Philadelphia, PA | 43,329 | 1.8 mi |
| 19027 | Elkins Park, PA | 19,067 | 2.2 mi |
| 19012 | Cheltenham, PA | 6,670 | 2.8 mi |
| 19140 | Philadelphia, PA | 54,133 | 3.1 mi |
| 19038 | Glenside, PA | 31,595 | 3.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 19138, 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 (32,273 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Philadelphia County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 19138 in?
ZIP code 19138 (Philadelphia) is located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/philadelphia-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 19138?
ZIP code 19138 in Philadelphia, PA has a population of 32,273 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19138?
The median household income in ZIP 19138 is $57,744, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19138?
The median home value in ZIP 19138 is $177,000, which is 36% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19138?
The largest racial group in ZIP 19138 is African American at 92.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19138?
ZIP code 19138 has 225 business establishments employing approximately 2,419 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19138?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19138 are: Retail trade (49), Health care and social assistance (47), Other services (except public administration) (33). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19138?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19138 increased by 4.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 246%. 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 19138?
In ZIP code 19138, 55.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.5% 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 19138?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 19138 is 32.5 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 19138?
In ZIP code 19138, approximately 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19138?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19138 is 21.8% 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 19138's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 19138 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Philadelphia, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.