Swarthmore, PA vs Walden, NY: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Walden, NY has a modeled overall cost index 7.2% higher than Swarthmore, PA.

Swarthmore, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,760 / month
Walden, NY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,900 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Swarthmore, PA and Walden, NY using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $465/month in Walden, NY

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,584 in Walden, NY

Regional cost estimates: Swarthmore, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Walden, NY uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$465
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$5.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Swarthmore, PA

Population:7K
Cost Index:
89.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$458K

Walden, NY

Population:7K
Cost Index:
95.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$406K

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Swarthmore, PA

The Keystone State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Walden, NY

The Empire State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New York, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Swarthmore, PA vs Walden, NY

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↑ 14.6%
Swarthmore, PA
$1,718
Walden, NY
$1,970
Difference
$252
more
Transportation
↑ 13.0%
Swarthmore, PA
$1,375
Walden, NY
$1,554
Difference
$179
more
Healthcare
↑ 13.5%
Swarthmore, PA
$626
Walden, NY
$711
Difference
$84.62
more
Housing
↓ 1.8%
Swarthmore, PA
$2,015
Walden, NY
$1,979
Difference
$36.79
less
All Utilities
↓ 1.6%
Swarthmore, PA
$626
Walden, NY
$616
Difference
$9.95
less
Groceries
↓ 0.2%
Swarthmore, PA
$1,139
Walden, NY
$1,136
Difference
$2.71
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,360
To$1,310
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,480
To$1,490
↑ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,760
To$1,900
↑ $140
3 Bed
From$2,110
To$2,410
↑ $300
Swarthmore, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,480–$1,480/mo

Walden, NYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$1,490/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Swarthmore, PA
$7,965
Monthly in Walden, NY
$465
Difference

Home Values

Swarthmore
Walden
$458K
Median Value
$406K
↑ +3.4%
YoY Change
↑ +2.8%
↑ +39.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +46.6%

Homes in Walden are 11% less expensive than Swarthmore

Calculate payment - SwarthmoreCalculate payment - Walden

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $4.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$412
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.3%
Rate difference

Swarthmore, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Walden, NY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New York State Tax
Effective: 6.4%
$9.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.0%
$46.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,620/month
$103.4K

Additional Tax Information

Swarthmore, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

Walden, NY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:1.2%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Swarthmore
Walden
52 Moderate
Air Quality
N/A
47.3%
Good Air Days
-
100 Very High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
22 days
Heat Days >95°F
15 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
22 days
Heat Days >95°F
15 days

Before moving from Swarthmore, PA to Walden, NY

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Walden, NY for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Swarthmore, PA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Swarthmore to Walden moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Walden, NY by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Swarthmore, PA vs Walden, NY

How do the cost estimates for Swarthmore, PA and Walden, NY compare?

Walden, NY has a modeled overall cost index 7.2% higher than Swarthmore, PA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Swarthmore, PA, the model estimates $155,584 in Walden, NY. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Swarthmore, PA and Walden, NY?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,760/month in Swarthmore, PA and $1,900/month in Walden, NY. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Pennsylvania and New York on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Swarthmore, PA on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $129/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $99.70/mo

Similar cost to Walden, NY

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