1st Advantage MortgageDelaware County households have a median income of $89,546 and median rent of $1,372 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Delaware County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Delaware County
- Household income in Delaware County
- Work, industries and travel time in Delaware County
- Regional comparison for Delaware County
- Places inside Delaware County
- Delaware County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Delaware County
- What a median Delaware County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Delaware County residents
- A Delaware County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Delaware County
- Frequently asked questions
Delaware County at a glance
Roughly 579,222 residents live in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, 5th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. It covers 184 square miles of land, or about 3,151 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 45 Census places inside Delaware County, Chester leads by population with about 33,619; 28 of the 45 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Delaware County
Renters in Delaware County pay a median of $1,372 a month, 13% above the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. 55% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $332,200, about 3.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 70% of homes.
| Cost | Delaware County | Pennsylvania figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,372/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $332,200 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 24% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Household income in Delaware County
Half of Delaware County households take in less than $89,546 a year and half take in more, 15% above the Pennsylvania median of $77,971.
| Household income | Delaware County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.6% | -3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.1% | -3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.8% | +6.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 45% of Delaware County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 10.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.488 here. None of these numbers decides a Delaware County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Delaware County
The biggest employer of Delaware County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (13%). Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 27% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Delaware County averages 6.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 9.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Delaware County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Delaware County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Delaware County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Delaware County's, from 15 to 25 miles away. Chester County leads the group on income ($127,208), Philadelphia County trails ($61,953), and Delaware County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into New Jersey, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | - | $89,546 | $1,372/mo | 70% |
| Philadelphia County, PA | 15 mi | $61,953 | $1,397/mo | 52% |
| Gloucester County, NJ | 19 mi | $105,115 | $1,531/mo | 80% |
| Chester County, PA | 19 mi | $127,208 | $1,763/mo | 75% |
| Montgomery County, PA | 20 mi | $113,915 | $1,683/mo | 71% |
| Salem County, NJ | 24 mi | $79,960 | $1,253/mo | 71% |
| Camden County, NJ | 25 mi | $88,755 | $1,402/mo | 65% |
Places inside Delaware County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 45 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 52% of Delaware County residents live in one of the 45. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Villanova, $39,863 in Darby. Rent is cheapest in Millbourne ($1,016) and steepest in Lima ($3,000). Live in one of these Delaware County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | city | 33,619 | $41,342 | $1,091 | 5 mi |
| Drexel Hill | CDP | 30,451 | $88,168 | $1,357 | 6 mi |
| Ardmore | CDP | 13,909 | $119,111 | $1,763 | 8 mi |
| Yeadon | borough | 12,181 | $49,759 | $1,213 | 8 mi |
| Lansdowne | borough | 11,122 | $73,232 | $1,304 | 7 mi |
| Darby | borough | 10,687 | $39,863 | $1,308 | 7 mi |
| Broomall | CDP | 10,679 | $105,625 | $1,765 | 4 mi |
| Woodlyn | CDP | 9,736 | $79,696 | $1,196 | 4 mi |
| Villanova | CDP | 9,186 | $250,001 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Village Green-Green Ridge | CDP | 9,073 | $96,711 | $1,356 | 4 mi |
| Collingdale | borough | 8,897 | $51,886 | $1,090 | 6 mi |
| Folsom | CDP | 8,671 | $113,064 | $1,540 | 4 mi |
| Brookhaven | borough | 8,331 | $91,042 | $1,487 | 3 mi |
| Ridley Park | borough | 7,261 | $93,594 | $1,350 | 5 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Delaware County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 42% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Delaware County | All of Pennsylvania | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.9% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.6% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.6% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.0% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Delaware County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Delaware County
A few patterns in the Delaware County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Delaware County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Higher earners. 45% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
What a median Delaware County budget can carry
How much room does a median Delaware County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $89,546 a year is $7,462 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,372, which is 18% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,240 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,986 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Delaware County's.
Who licenses lenders for Delaware County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Delaware County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Delaware County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Delaware County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Delaware County-area credit union.
- Verify the Pennsylvania license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Delaware County
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Delaware County household make?
About $89,546 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% above the Pennsylvania median.
What do renters pay in Delaware County?
$1,372 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Delaware County?
By population: Chester, Drexel Hill, Ardmore, Yeadon, Lansdowne. The county has 45 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Delaware County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Delaware County check a lender's license?
With the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.