Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Philadelphia County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 1,582,432. It is the 1st most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Philadelphia County 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 County 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 County 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.