Homefactsby IDLookupNew search

Neighborhood report

West Chester, PA

Founded 1799Chester CountyElev. 136 m
Population
19,235
Median home
$481,300
Disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
Public schools
20
Sex offenders
7

Overview

About West Chester

With about 19,235 residents, West Chester is one of Pennsylvania's notable places. West Chester was founded in 1799 and sits in Chester County. The median age is 24.8 and the median household income is $81,492. Homes carry a median value of $481,300, and about 35% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (71.4%). Around 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 22 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Look up anyone in West Chester, PA
Search West Chester residents by name — addresses, phone numbers, relatives, criminal & public records.
Search people →

Who lives here

Demographics

Population
19,235
Median age
24.8
Median household income
$81,492
Per-capita income
$44,115
Poverty rate
18.3%
High-school grad or higher
94%
Bachelor's degree or higher
60.1%
Unemployment
7.1%
Avg. commute
21.9 min
Work from home
14.9%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White71.4%
Hispanic or Latino10.9%
Black12.4%
Asian1.9%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts49.9%
Sales & office21.2%
Service19.2%
Production, transportation & material moving7%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance2.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$481,300
Median gross rent
$1,661/mo
Owner-occupied
34.9%
Median year built
1958
Households
7,001
Avg. household size
2.07

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Mixed

West Chester has 20 public schools — 12 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 5 schools
Reading67%
Math35%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

21st Century Cyber CSHighGrades 6–12charter
West Chester Bayard Rustin HSHighGrades 9–12
West Chester East HSHighGrades 9–12
West Chester Henderson HSHighGrades 9–12
E N Peirce MSMiddleGrades 6–8
J R Fugett MSMiddleGrades 6–8
Stetson MSMiddleGrades 6–8
Chester Co Family Academy CSElementarycharter
East Bradford El SchElementary
East Goshen El SchElementary
Fern Hill El SchElementary
Glen Acres El SchElementary
Greystone El SchElementary
Hillsdale El SchElementary

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime28% below national
West Chester276
Pennsylvania278
United States386
↑ 5% higher than 2019
2019–2023
property crime34% below national
West Chester1,291
Pennsylvania1,613
United States1,952
↓ 15% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, West Chester Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

18 facilities in West Chester report releasing toxic chemicals to the EPA under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

National Foam Inc · Chester CountyHeinz Frozen Food Co · Chester CountyCookson Matthey Ceramics · Chester CountyIci Americas Inc Lnp Eng Plastics · Chester CountyMei · Chester CountySafety-Kleen Systems West Chester (Wcp) · Chester CountyTranswall · Chester CountyWire & Cable Specialties Inc · Chester CountyZeks Compressed Air Solutions · Chester CountyMetallurgical Products Co · Chester CountyBonded Products Inc · Chester CountyFermtec Products Inc · Chester County

Facilities reporting to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts (TRI).

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Moderate
Top hazards · Chester County
Winter weatherVery High
DroughtRelatively High
Ice stormRelatively High
LightningRelatively High
Riverine floodingRelatively High
Strong windRelatively High

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

West Chester is in Chester County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

West Chester was founded in 1799 and sits in Chester County. Elevation ~136 m.

Map of West Chester
West Chester, PA
Where West Chester is
PhiladelphiaPittsburghAllentownReadingErieBethlehemWest Chester
Historic places

19 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Farmers and Mechanics Trust Company BuildingNew Century ClubhouseBuckwalter BuildingEverhart, William, BuildingsButler HouseChester County CourthouseCollins MansionStrode's Mill
Notable people from West Chester
Samuel BarberMatisyahuBam MargeraSmedley ButlerMatthew McGroryKyle GallnerBayard RustinCharlie McDermottGraham RogersJim Furyk
People searches in West Chester
Michael Smith (3)John Smith (3)James Smith (3)David Smith (2)Robert Smith (2)Michael Johnson (2)John Johnson (2)James Johnson (2)Michael Williams (2)William Smith (2)David Johnson (2)Robert Johnson (2)John Williams (2)Michael Brown (2)Michael Jones (2)James Williams (2)David Williams (2)John Brown (2)Robert Williams (2)John Jones (2)William Johnson (2)Mary Smith (2)James Brown (2)James Jones (2)
Nearby cities
Phoenixville (13 mi)Chester (15 mi)Norristown (18 mi)Pottstown (20 mi)Philadelphia (25 mi)Lansdale (26 mi)

Registered sex offenders in West Chester, PA (7)

Public sex-offender registry records for West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Kenneth Copeland, 41
West Chester · Chester County · 19382
AKA Kenneth Brown, Kenny Copeland
Joshua Gonzalez
West Chester · 19382
Joseph Benton Allen V, 27
West Chester · Chester County · 19380
AKA Joseph Allen, Joseph Bentonv Allen
Mark Wesley Jones, 67
West Chester · Chester County · 19382
AKA Mark W Jones
Anthony Richard Brown Jr, 21
West Chester · Chester County · 19382
AKA Anthony Brown
Jose Abelardo Ramirez-Cantarero, 39
West Chester · Chester County · 19382
AKA Jose Abelaro Ramirez-Cantarero, Jose Ramirez-Cantarero
David Alan Thompson, 43
West Chester · 19382

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

West Chester — frequently asked

What is the population of West Chester, Pennsylvania?
West Chester has a population of about 19,235, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in West Chester?
The median home value in West Chester is $481,300, and the median gross rent is $1,661/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is West Chester safe? What is the crime rate?
West Chester Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 276 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — lower than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does West Chester face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chester County as "Relatively Moderate" overall, with top hazards including winter weather, drought, ice storm.
How many schools are in West Chester?
West Chester has 20 public schools (12 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in West Chester?
Public registry data lists 7 registered sex offenders in or near West Chester. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in West Chester →