Delaware County is a suburb of Philadelphia with 49 municipalities and a population of 575,000. It is a county of towns, suburbs and countryside immediately adjacent to — and intimately connected with — the nation’s sixth largest city, Philadelphia.
The county is densely settled, the fifth most populous in the Commonwealth, yet the third smallest in land area. The area has significant resources, an engaged business community and talented nonprofits, several institutions of higher learning and excellent health care facilities, and its residents have a strong sense of community pride. However, Delaware County faces challenges.
Even though the county ranks fourth highest in the Commonwealth in per capita income, it is home to more than 50,000 people living in poverty. Furthermore, in several areas, multi-generational poverty is endemic. While the county compares well with peers nationally on many measures — from educational attainment to primary care access — it ranks unfavorably on a range of others. These include certain crimes, teen pregnancy, low birth weight, death from HIV, heart disease and stroke.
Here are some of the key Delaware County statistics that have been guiding the foundation’s priorities. We’re here to help generous residents of Delaware County, nonprofits, and other philanthropists and funders address the needs of the county.
of Delaware County lives in poverty
live in deep poverty
children live in poverty
are foreign born
are non-white persons of color
speak a language other than English at home
of children are food insecure
residents are food insecure
of housing units are occupied by renters
of households make less than $50,000/year
Delaware County ranks 36 out of 67 counties for quality of life
The Black infant mortality rate is 2 times higher than that of white infants
of Delco households experience at least 1 of 4 housing problems (5th highest rate of Pennsylvania counties)
7th highest rate of residential segregation among Pennsylvania counties
of all renters are severely burdened by rent costs (spend more than 50% of income on rent)
Please join us in driving Delaware County forward.
