Swarthmore, PA: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Swarthmore ( SWORTH-mor, locally SWAHTH-mor) is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College. As of the 2020 census, Swarthmore had a population of 6,543.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Swarthmore ranks

All →

#3Most educated in PA #7Best schools in PA #46Highest income in PA All PA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code19081

Area code215

Living in Swarthmore

Housing in Swarthmore

$474K▲ 3.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Swarthmore home is worth about $474,000, up 3.7% in a year, 63% above the Pennsylvania typical home.

Only 2 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Swarthmore

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Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Swarthmore's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Swarthmore 0

Pennsylvania 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Swarthmore 3.3

Pennsylvania 13.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Swarthmore

Compared with Pennsylvania

3better than PA

of 5 measures CDC estimates. The other 2 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 0 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.3%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethPA 14.5% · better 77%More adults seeing a dentistPA 64.4% · better

Care nearby

Crozer Chester Medical CenterUpland · 3.3 mi · ER

Chespenn Center for Family Health at EastsideChester · 3.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Swarthmore · CMS · HRSAHealth in Swarthmore →

Schools in Swarthmore

All Swarthmore schools →

A⁺

School Grade A+

The public schools Swarthmore’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 95% of Pennsylvania’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#7Best public schoolsof 764 in PA

DistrictWallingford-Swarthmore SDSchools2

Swarthmore-Rutledge Sch A+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 560 students Geoge Crothers Memorial SchoolOther · Grades K–12 · 130 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within PA. Ratings are from neighbors.