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Living in
Norristown.
About
Life in Norristown
Norristown offers an affordable entry point into the Philadelphia metro area without the city's higher costs—median home values sit around $213,900 and rents average $1,422 monthly. The job market is solid with a 3.7% unemployment rate, though most employment centers on government and healthcare sectors rather than diverse industries, so your career options depend heavily on those fields. The 27-minute average commute to jobs or Philadelphia itself is reasonable, though you'll need a car since it's a car-dependent urban area.
Norristown at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.5%
Foreign-Born
18.4%
Broadband Internet
90.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Norristown: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Norristown, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (43.6%), and 23.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.9%
of residents
65 and Older
10.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.0%
of households
Married Couples
33.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.77
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% above PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Norristown
In Norristown, rent runs 18% above the PA average, and home values are 16% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,638
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $332,834 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below PA average
Unemployment in Norristown and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Norristown is 0.6 percentage points lower than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Norristown Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area
Commute26.9 min avg
How Norristown residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Norristown, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 48% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Norristown runs 48% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
486.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,811.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Norristown Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 35 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Montgomery County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Montgomery County, which includes Norristown, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 35 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | Thunderstorm Wind | $120,000 |
| 2024 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2022 | 30 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | $65.0M |
| 2020 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4,000 |
| 2019 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 30 | Flash Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Norristown is about 4% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Montgomery County, which includes Norristown, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
96
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Norristown is about 4% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Norristown has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.6"
Annual Snowfall
25.3"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
107
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 23°F | 3.66" |
| Feb | 44°F | 25°F | 2.98" |
| Mar | 52°F | 32°F | 4.41" |
| Apr | 65°F | 42°F | 3.90" |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 4.25" |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 4.20" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 4.70" |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 4.98" |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 4.91" |
| Oct | 68°F | 45°F | 4.32" |
| Nov | 57°F | 35°F | 3.61" |
| Dec | 46°F | 28°F | 4.73" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Norristown
Norristown has 4 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
11.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Suburban Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Valley Forge Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals
Norristown State Hospital
Psychiatric
Montgomery County Emergency Service
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · East Norriton
Eagleville Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.6 mi away · Eagleville
Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 6.6 mi away · Fort Washington
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Norristown
Norristown's student/teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Norristown (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 20,970 students · in-state tuition $23,824 · 75% graduate · median earnings $71,027 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 13,233 students · in-state tuition $64,212 · 74% graduate · median earnings $92,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Community College of Philadelphia
14.4 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,948 students · in-state tuition $4,692 · 19% graduate · median earnings $44,885 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,650 students · in-state tuition $71,236 · 97% graduate · median earnings $121,687 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
10.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 4,948 students · in-state tuition $55,380 · 78% graduate · median earnings $85,980 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,953 students · in-state tuition $40,000 · 63% graduate · median earnings $71,235 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Valley Forge National Historical Park, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Norristown
Norristown has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Valley Forge National Historical Park (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
16 mi awayThaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
16 mi awayGloria Dei Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awayFirst State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
26 mi awayPublic Libraries in Norristown
Mont Co-Norristown Pub Lib
1001 Powell St, Norristown
Cities Near Norristown
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Norristown?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Norristown FAQ
Is Norristown, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Norristown's median rent is $1,422/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $66,701/year. Median home value is $213,900.
Is Norristown, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Norristown's violent crime rate was 487 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1811 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Norristown, Pennsylvania?⌄
Norristown has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Norristown, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Norristown is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,422/month and median household income is $66,701/year. The median home value is $213,900. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Norristown, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Norristown is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from