Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Philadelphia city is a major urban center located in Pennsylvania, within Philadelphia County. The total population is 1,582,432. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 1,993 cities and towns in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Philadelphia city is 35.1 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Philadelphia city is $60,698. This is 20% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.0%. This is 87% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 8.4%. This is 60% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $232,400. Housing costs are 3% lower than the state median of $240,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 52.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Philadelphia city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (33.6%) is well below the state average of 73.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (38.9% vs 10.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.2% vs 8.4%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (7.7% vs 3.7%).

Education

34.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about average than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.4%. Notably, 15.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,993 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. For official data, visit data.census.gov.