Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
A $558,000 home here costs
$4,773per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $204,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,042. The real number is $1,731 higher every month, 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Delaware County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Swarthmore against Delaware County and Pennsylvania
| Measure | Swarthmore | Delaware County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $557,900 | $302,400 |
| Median property tax | $10,001 | $6,001 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.793% | 1.984% |
| Median gross rent | $1,493 | $1,315 |
| Population | 6,524 | 576,195 |
The weather behind that power bill
Swarthmore sits in Delaware County, which averages a high of 87.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 26.0°F in its coldest, with 44.11" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,358 cooling and 4,510 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Delaware County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Delaware County
Full Delaware County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Swarthmore averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Swarthmore every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Swarthmore I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Swarthmore?
A $558,000 home in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania costs approximately $4,773 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,042 principal and interest, $834 property tax, $186 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $465 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Swarthmore?
Swarthmore has an effective property tax rate of 1.793%, based on a median home value of $557,900 and median real estate taxes of $10,001. That is lower than the Delaware County average of 1.984%.
What is the average home price in Swarthmore?
The median owner-occupied home value in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is $557,900, against $302,400 across Delaware County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Swarthmore?
Median gross rent in Swarthmore is $1,493 a month, against $4,773 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Swarthmore?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $204,500 a year. That covers the full $4,773 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Swarthmore, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.