State rank#1 of 67
Smallest county1,579,706 residentsPhiladelphia County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 42101
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population1,579,706
Household income$61,953
Unemployment4.5%
Life expectancy73.9 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Philadelphia County has 1,579,706 residents and ranks #1 by population among Pennsylvania county equivalents. Median household income is $61,953. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Pennsylvania
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Philadelphia County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Philadelphia County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $243,100 median home value and $1,397/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $61,953, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Philadelphia County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and primary care access. College attainment is 35.4% and life expectancy is 73.9 years.
Potential advantages
- Mental health access: 1 per 269 residents, rank #6 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.4%, rank #10 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,412 residents, rank #22 of 65 available Pennsylvania counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Poor or fair health: 24.4%, rank #67 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,397/mo, rank #64 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 73.9 years, rank #64 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Pennsylvania
Rank and range use only counties in Pennsylvania with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$61,953
$61,953; below the state county median of $66,318.
State rank #51 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$243,100
$243,100; above the state county median of $202,200.
State rank #50 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,397/mo
$1,397/mo; above the state county median of $901/mo.
State rank #64 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.5%
4.5%; above the state county median of 3.9%.
State rank #61 of 67 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
35.4%
35.4%; above the state county median of 23.9%.
State rank #10 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
73.9 years
73.9 years; below the state county median of 76.2 years.
State rank #64 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
24.4%
24.4%; above the state county median of 18.1%.
State rank #67 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.7%
7.7%; above the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #52 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,412 residents
1 per 1,412 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,736 residents.
State rank #22 of 65 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 269 residents
1 per 269 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 597 residents.
State rank #6 of 67 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Philadelphia County FAQ
Is Philadelphia County a good place to live?
Philadelphia County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and primary care access. College attainment is 35.4% and life expectancy is 73.9 years.
What should I know before moving to Philadelphia County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $243,100 median home value and $1,397/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $61,953, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Philadelphia County?
Philadelphia County has 1,579,706 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Philadelphia County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 42101; the parent state FIPS is 42.
What is the median household income in Philadelphia County?
The ACS median household income is $61,953.
How much does housing cost in Philadelphia County?
Housing benchmarks are $243,100 median home value and $1,397/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $61,953, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Philadelphia County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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