Pennsylvania · GEOID 42045

Delaware County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 579,222 · 229,715 housing units

Median household income

$89,546

State $80,054

Median home value

$332,200

State $266,800

Median gross rent

$1,372

State $1,235

Homeownership rate

69.6%

State 69.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

54.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

22.9%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.8%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

5.6%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.71

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Delaware County	Pennsylvania
Population	579,222	13,018,639
Population density (per sq. mi.)	3,151.23	—
Median household income	$89,546	$80,054
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$122,700	—
Households	216,946	—
Average household size	2.56 people	—
Owner-occupied	69.6%	69.3%
Renter-occupied	30.4%	30.7%
Race	63.2% White · 22.2% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Delaware County compared with Pennsylvania.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

41.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	12.6%	$56,827	$1,421	$180,510
1 earner	31.1%	$75,012	$1,875	$248,201
2 earners	42.4%	$147,848	$3,696	$519,321
3+ earners	13.9%	$188,317	$4,708	$669,960

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

216,946

Average size: 2.56 people

Households with children

58,637

27.0% of households

Per-capita income

$49,673

Poverty rate: 9.4%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

69.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 75.6% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 15.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

79.4% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,957.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $332,200.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,372.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 12,769 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 7.1% · For rent 26.5% · Seasonal 5.0% · Other 54.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

40.7% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 59.3% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.3%

635 units of 229,715 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.0%

6,922 units of 229,715 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$71,637

100% MHI$89,546

120% MHI$107,455

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Delaware County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$68,750	$78,550	$98,150
100% AMI	$85,890	$98,160	$122,700
120% AMI	$103,050	$117,800	$147,250

HUD FMR Area: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

54.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (30.6% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

22.9% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Delaware County.

Covered employment

203,724

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

14,424

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$73,489

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	46,997	$56,523	$179,378	−$152,822	$1,413
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	23,348	$37,882	$109,990	−$222,210	$947
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	17,742	$25,788	$64,972	−$267,228	$645
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	12,944	$106,680	$366,080	+$33,880	$2,667
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	12,233	$65,402	$212,429	−$119,771	$1,635
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	12,167	$90,395	$305,461	−$26,739	$2,260
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	11,019	$56,091	$177,770	−$154,430	$1,402
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	9,887	$61,139	$196,561	−$135,639	$1,528
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	9,462	$116,108	$401,174	+$68,974	$2,903
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	9,052	$44,972	$136,382	−$195,818	$1,124
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	8,704	$151,829	$534,140	+$201,940	$3,796
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	7,177	$229,115	$821,824	+$489,624	$5,728
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	7,033	$75,704	$250,776	−$81,424	$1,893
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	6,012	$100,354	$342,532	+$10,332	$2,509
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	4,080	$41,109	$122,002	−$210,198	$1,028
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	2,816	$102,184	$349,344	+$17,144	$2,555
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	2,034	$134,644	$470,171	+$137,971	$3,366
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	864	$145,504	$510,596	+$178,396	$3,638
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	106	$33,808	$94,825	−$237,375	$845
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	47	$81,026	$270,587	−$61,613	$2,026

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	16,499	$25,183	$62,720	−$269,480	$630
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	16,216	$72,534	$238,977	−$93,223	$1,813
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	13,159	$37,188	$107,407	−$224,793	$930
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	12,567	$47,480	$145,717	−$186,483	$1,187
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	12,233	$65,402	$212,429	−$119,771	$1,635
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	10,071	$53,814	$169,294	−$162,906	$1,345
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	9,462	$116,108	$401,174	+$68,974	$2,903
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	8,371	$89,216	$301,073	−$31,127	$2,230
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	7,532	$29,995	$80,632	−$251,568	$750
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	7,177	$229,115	$821,824	+$489,624	$5,728
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	5,055	$77,974	$259,226	−$72,974	$1,949
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	4,492	$73,267	$241,705	−$90,495	$1,832
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	4,028	$28,486	$75,015	−$257,185	$712
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	4,014	$129,086	$449,482	+$117,282	$3,227
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	4,013	$34,020	$95,614	−$236,586	$851
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	4,001	$129,126	$449,631	+$117,431	$3,228
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	3,775	$47,548	$145,970	−$186,230	$1,189
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	3,768	$100,696	$343,805	+$11,605	$2,517
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	3,320	$32,897	$91,434	−$240,766	$822
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	3,170	$88,494	$298,385	−$33,815	$2,212
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	2,872	$111,300	$383,277	+$51,077	$2,783
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	2,533	$72,173	$237,633	−$94,567	$1,804
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	2,522	$48,013	$147,701	−$184,499	$1,200
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	2,210	$61,645	$198,444	−$133,756	$1,541
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	2,136	$100,155	$341,791	+$9,591	$2,504
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	2,049	$48,840	$150,780	−$181,420	$1,221
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	1,965	$87,666	$295,303	−$36,897	$2,192
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	1,772	$84,499	$283,514	−$48,686	$2,112
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	1,681	$40,982	$121,529	−$210,671	$1,025
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,590	$32,225	$88,933	−$243,267	$806
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,548	$35,245	$100,174	−$232,026	$881
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	1,443	$93,990	$318,843	−$13,357	$2,350
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	1,278	$25,652	$64,466	−$267,734	$641
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,243	$33,821	$94,874	−$237,326	$846
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	1,239	$72,878	$240,257	−$91,943	$1,822
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	1,203	$42,557	$127,392	−$204,808	$1,064
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	1,162	$57,868	$184,385	−$147,815	$1,447
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,138	$61,171	$196,680	−$135,520	$1,529
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,109	$48,199	$148,394	−$183,806	$1,205
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	997	$141,199	$494,571	+$162,371	$3,530
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	948	$80,278	$267,802	−$64,398	$2,007
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	864	$145,504	$510,596	+$178,396	$3,638
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	802	$70,252	$230,482	−$101,718	$1,756
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	801	$110,210	$379,219	+$47,019	$2,755
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	792	$112,865	$389,102	+$56,902	$2,822
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	780	$76,374	$253,270	−$78,930	$1,909
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	761	$192,880	$686,945	+$354,745	$4,822
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	698	$69,304	$226,953	−$105,247	$1,733
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	685	$106,054	$363,749	+$31,549	$2,651
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	627	$115,594	$399,261	+$67,061	$2,890
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	590	$141,112	$494,247	+$162,047	$3,528
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	505	$92,823	$314,499	−$17,701	$2,321
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	418	$111,907	$385,536	+$53,336	$2,798
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	418	$53,174	$166,912	−$165,288	$1,329
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	404	$88,165	$297,161	−$35,039	$2,204
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	329	$81,025	$270,583	−$61,617	$2,026
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	306	$43,249	$129,968	−$202,232	$1,081
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	293	$57,162	$181,757	−$150,443	$1,429
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	254	$45,798	$139,456	−$192,744	$1,145
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	244	$91,999	$311,432	−$20,768	$2,300
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	241	$64,517	$209,135	−$123,065	$1,613
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	236	$25,876	$65,300	−$266,900	$647
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	150	$108,570	$373,115	+$40,915	$2,714
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	150	$66,815	$217,689	−$114,511	$1,670
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	146	$70,840	$232,671	−$99,529	$1,771
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	134	$116,347	$402,063	+$69,863	$2,909
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	114	$85,172	$286,020	−$46,180	$2,129
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	98	$60,095	$192,674	−$139,526	$1,502
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	89	$144,714	$507,655	+$175,455	$3,618
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	82	$90,045	$304,159	−$28,041	$2,251
NAICS 486 Pipeline transportation NAICS 486	68	$162,858	$575,193	+$242,993	$4,071
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	65	$124,498	$432,404	+$100,204	$3,112
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	62	$108,958	$374,559	+$42,359	$2,724
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	18	$92,570	$313,557	−$18,643	$2,314

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	69,080	3,680	6%	$15.33	$31,880	$87,649	$797
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	54,100	(16,290)	(23%)	$15.85	$32,970	$91,706	$824
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	7,960	(5,860)	(42%)	$16.74	$34,820	$98,592	$871
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	63,990	(27,640)	(30%)	$17.77	$36,970	$106,595	$924
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	40,790	(2,730)	(6%)	$19.04	$39,610	$116,422	$990
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	41,900	(2,040)	(5%)	$19.90	$41,390	$123,048	$1,035
Tellers SOC 43-3071	6,010	(3,420)	(36%)	$21.33	$44,370	$134,141	$1,109
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	30,680	(34,790)	(53%)	$22.03	$45,820	$139,538	$1,146
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	45,660	(13,130)	(22%)	$23.35	$48,560	$149,737	$1,214
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	22,470	(890)	(4%)	$26.27	$54,640	$172,369	$1,366
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	14,580	30	0%	$28.34	$58,940	$188,375	$1,474
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	32,220	10,120	46%	$29.84	$62,060	$199,989	$1,552
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	14,260	2,020	17%	$31.70	$65,930	$214,394	$1,648
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	1,760	(2,970)	(63%)	$35.28	$73,370	$242,089	$1,834
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	3,970	600	18%	$35.67	$74,200	$245,178	$1,855
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	23,380	(3,030)	(11%)	—	$78,650	$261,742	$1,966
Electricians SOC 47-2111	10,090	(870)	(8%)	$39.29	$81,720	$273,170	$2,043
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	7,150	660	10%	$40.22	$83,660	$280,391	$2,092
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	13,160	(650)	(5%)	$41.79	$86,910	$292,489	$2,173
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	73,790	6,990	10%	$48.75	$101,400	$346,426	$2,535

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 42045 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.