In Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, rent on a two-bedroom takes about two in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Philadelphia County, 36.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 91% of U.S. counties.
What drives Philadelphia County's score
In Philadelphia County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 96.2. Late payments on loans come next, at 87.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Philadelphia County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Philadelphia County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (94.5, 2025) and people without health insurance (7.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 96.2 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent27.5% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income36.9% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
-
- 87.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.9% · August 202590th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.4% · August 202590th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score50.6% · second quarter of 202681st percentile
-
- 71.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202681st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.5% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
-
- 69.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line19.7% · 202486th percentile
- Children below the poverty line27.8% · 202487th percentile
- People with a disability17.4% · 2020 to 202462nd percentile
- People without health insurance7.1% · 2020 to 202443rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$60,500 · 202469th percentile
-
- 58.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector34.1% · August 202584th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people94.5 · 202533rd percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Philadelphia County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Philadelphia County, 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Philadelphia County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 27.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Philadelphia County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 19.7% in 2011 to 22.1% in 2012.
The share of households in Philadelphia County getting SNAP food aid nearly doubled from 2009 to 2024, reaching 26.2%
High on the chart: 26.3% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
How Philadelphia County has changed
Philadelphia County's population had its largest drop, from 1,953,285 in 1969 to 1,824,215 in 1974.
Philadelphia County's population fell by about a fifth from 1969 to 2024, reaching 1,573,916
High on the chart: 1,953,285 in 1969. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
The number of jobs located in Philadelphia County had its largest rise in the last span, from 641,208 in 2020 to 725,357 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Philadelphia County fell to its lowest on the chart in 2010, then climbed past the 1990 level
Low on the chart: 626,418 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.4% | 2025 5.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 20.9% | 2024 19.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,589 | 2024 $60,500 |
The table uses 5.3% for 2025; the score uses 5.0% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Philadelphia County's history
1682
November 1682, one of three original counties founded by William Penn, along with Chester and Bucks counties. Wikipedia
1950
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 2,071,605. The 2020 Census counted 1,603,797, 77% of the peak. Census Bureau
2004
A flash flood in August 2004 did $18 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
A flash flood in September 2021 did $60 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
A flash flood in September 2021 did $40 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2025
A thunderstorm in December 2025 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1965
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Philadelphia County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Philadelphia County beside its neighbors
Philadelphia County scores higher than all six counties that border it, in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Of the group, Philadelphia County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (27.6%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County, PA | 91 | 19.7% | 27.6% |
| Camden County, NJ | 70 | 11.4% | 22.2% |
| Delaware County, PA | 49 | 10.7% | 16.9% |
| Gloucester County, NJ | 42 | 7.1% | 18.9% |
| Burlington County, NJ | 34 | 5.5% | 17.0% |
| Bucks County, PA | 12 | 6.1% | 14.5% |
| Montgomery County, PA | 9 | 6.2% | 12.5% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Philadelphia County the poorest county in Pennsylvania?
No, Philadelphia County's poverty rate was 19.7% in 2024, 2nd highest of 67 in Pennsylvania (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Forest County, at 22.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Philadelphia County ranks 1st of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Philadelphia County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Affordable Housing Center of Pennsylvania
HUD-approved housing counselor
-
Affordable Housing Center of Pennsylvania - Northeast Branch
HUD-approved housing counselor
-
Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania - West Philadephia
HUD-approved housing counselor
-
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Legal aid
-
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Philadelphia County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Philadelphia County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.