West Chester, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In West Chester, PA Summary
Cost of living in West Chester 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 West Chester 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 West Chester is 131, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in West Chester is 1.3x higher than the national average.
West Chester ranks as the #243 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
West Chester ranks as the #5,035 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in West Chester is $643,312.
The median income in West Chester is $81,492.
Table Of Contents
West Chester's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in West Chester, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Chester has an overall cost of living index of 131, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, West Chester has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 100.
The standard of living in West Chester ranks as #243 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies West Chester ranks as the #12 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in West Chester, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
West Chester Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Chester. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Chester is 104.
The Groceries index in West Chester is 107.
The Health index in West Chester is 108.
The Housing index in West Chester is 190.
The Transportation index in West Chester is 109.
The Utilities index in West Chester is 90.
| Living Expense | West Chester | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 131 | 100 | 100 | |
| Services | 104 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 107 | 101 | 100 | |
| Health | 108 | 95 | 100 | |
| Housing | 190 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 109 | 108 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 90 | 108 | 100 | |
West Chester, 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 West Chester is $643,312.
The Median Rent in West Chester is $1,661.
The Median Income in West Chester is $81,492.
The Home Value To Income in West Chester is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Chester is 0.24x.
| Statistic | West Chester | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $643,312 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,661 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $81,492 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
West Chester, PA Costs By Category
Detailed West Chester Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | West Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.71 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.14 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed West Chester Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | West Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.73 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.52 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.81 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.4 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.33 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed West Chester Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | West Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $149.53 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $132.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Chester Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | West Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $74.86 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Chester Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | West Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $173.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.79 | $192.25 |
West Chester SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Chester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Chester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Phoenixville, PA has a cost of living index of 114, 0.9x West Chester.
Ardmore, PA has a cost of living index of 124, 0.9x West Chester.
Conshohocken, PA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x West Chester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenixville, PA | 19,062 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Ardmore, PA | 14,165 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Conshohocken, PA | 9,235 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Audubon, PA | 9,014 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Lionville, PA | 7,091 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Swarthmore, PA | 6,524 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Penn Wynne, PA | 6,220 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Exton, PA | 6,192 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Paoli, PA | 6,124 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Trooper, PA | 5,408 | 117 | 0.9x |
