Darby receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Darby
Philadelphia
Opportunity
61 · Top 41%
vs61 · Top 40%
Growth
32 · Bottom 20%
vs58 · Top 36%
Climate
71 · Top 46%
vs71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience
91 · Top 10%
vs71 · Top 35%
Housing affordability
55 · Bottom 15%
vs69 · Bottom 32%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs98 · Top 15%
Economic stability
30 · Bottom 7%
vs43 · Bottom 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Darby | Philadelphia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,687 | 1,579,706 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $39,863 | $61,953 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $21,888 | $38,905 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 12,692/sq mi | 11,760/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $117,900 | $243,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,308 | $1,397 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 49.9% | 51.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.8% | 2.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 35.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 30.0% | 21.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 4,599 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.1" | 45.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 40.1 min | 34.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.9 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Darby
63
Your Score
64
Area Score
Philadelphia
62
Your Score
61
Area Score
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Full profiles: Darby, PA · Philadelphia, PA · How this is calculated: methodology