Swarthmore, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Swarthmore, PA Summary
Cost of living in Swarthmore research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Swarthmore is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Swarthmore is 134, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Swarthmore is 1.3x higher than the national average.
Swarthmore ranks as the #247 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
Swarthmore ranks as the #5,171 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Swarthmore is $446,292.
The median income in Swarthmore is $146,992.
Table Of Contents
Swarthmore's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Swarthmore, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Swarthmore has an overall cost of living index of 134, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Swarthmore has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Swarthmore ranks as #247 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Swarthmore ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Swarthmore, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
Swarthmore Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Swarthmore. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Swarthmore is 104.
The Groceries index in Swarthmore is 102.
The Health index in Swarthmore is 96.
The Housing index in Swarthmore is 205.
The Transportation index in Swarthmore is 105.
The Utilities index in Swarthmore is 112.
| Living Expense | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 134 | 97 | 100 | |
| Services | 104 | 100 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 | |
| Health | 96 | 92 | 100 | |
| Housing | 205 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 105 | 107 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 112 | 108 | 100 | |
Swarthmore, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Swarthmore is $446,292.
The Median Rent in Swarthmore is $1,493.
The Median Income in Swarthmore is $146,992.
The Home Value To Income in Swarthmore is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Swarthmore is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $446,292 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,493 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $146,992 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Swarthmore, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Swarthmore Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.52 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.75 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.47 | $18.0 |
| Haircut | $23.54 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $66.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Swarthmore Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.73 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Swarthmore Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.56 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.31 | $113.29 |
Detailed Swarthmore Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.53 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.89 | $59.92 |
Detailed Swarthmore Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.27 | $192.25 |
Swarthmore SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Swarthmore
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Swarthmore. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ardmore, PA has a cost of living index of 124, 0.9x Swarthmore.
Woodlyn, PA has a cost of living index of 103, 0.8x Swarthmore.
Ashland, NJ has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Swarthmore.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Swarthmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmore, PA | 14,165 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Woodlyn, PA | 10,276 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Ashland, NJ | 9,437 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Conshohocken, PA | 9,235 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Folsom, PA | 8,298 | 110 | 0.8x |
| Glenside, PA | 7,941 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Ridley Park, PA | 7,245 | 108 | 0.8x |
| Glenolden, PA | 7,207 | 100 | 0.7x |
| Blue Bell, PA | 6,450 | 147 | 1.1x |
| Penn Wynne, PA | 6,220 | 131 | 1.0x |
