The typical owner-occupied home in Swarthmore is worth about $633,800, 2.5 times the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and 91% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 1.58% of their home's value, higher than the Pennsylvania rate of 1.30%. The median household earns $152,361 a year, so the median home costs 4.2 times the median income (3.3 times for Pennsylvania). 76% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Swarthmore at a glance
| Swarthmore | Pennsylvania | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $633,800 | $254,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $10,001 | $3,311 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.58% | 1.30% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $152,361 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 76% | 69% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 53% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $3,777 | $1,762 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 16.8% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,532 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 22.7% | 29.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1949 | 1965 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.4% | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 6,550 | 13,018,639 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Swarthmore
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Swarthmore home of $633,800 with 20% down costs about $4,509 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,565, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $193,263 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 36% of the median Swarthmore household income of $152,361; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $500,000.
The median rent here is $1,532 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,977 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $126,760 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $507,040 |
| Principal and interest | $3,411 |
| Property taxes (1.58% a year) | $834 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $264 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $4,509 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $22,183 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $622,320 |
| Principal and interest | $4,186 |
| Property taxes (1.58% a year) | $834 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $264 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $280 |
| Total per month | $5,565 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Swarthmore
What is the median home value in Swarthmore?
About $633,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Swarthmore?
Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 1.58% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Swarthmore?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,509 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $193,263 a year.
More about Swarthmore
- Mortgage Refinance in Swarthmore
- Debt Relief in Swarthmore
- Home Equity Loans in Swarthmore
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data