Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
For most people who can afford it, yes. Phoenixville grades A overall, 267th among Pennsylvania's 1032 graded towns. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 96% of U.S. towns. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 90% of the country and the median household earns $102K. What holds it back is price: homes are expensive, about $527K for a typical one and 5.8 times the Philadelphia metro’s $91K median household income. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 99% of U.S. towns, with 4 places on the National Register. 57% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Phoenixville, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (29%) and U.S. towns (29%). Only 51 of Pennsylvania’s 1,749 towns score higher on history.
Where Phoenixville beats most towns.
Census counts: 2,670 in 1850, 18,602 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1880 and 6 maps from 1906 on.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Phoenixville is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Phoenixville. Close and well known come first.
Big draw25 mi MuseumUSS New Jersey
Big draw25 mi Stadium & arenaLincoln Financial Field
Big draw21 mi MuseumLynnewood Hall
Big draw25 mi Stadium & arenaXfinity Mobile Arena
Big draw22 mi MuseumEastern State Penitentiary
Big draw24 mi Ancient siteIndependence Hall3.0M visitors a yearUSS New Jersey: Camera Operator: PH3 BRYANT, Public domain · Lincoln Financial Field: The original uploader was Betp at French Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lynnewood Hall: Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Xfinity Mobile Arena: Jen Smith, CC BY 3.0 · Eastern State Penitentiary: Davidt8, Public domain · Independence Hall: Mys 721tx, CC BY-SA 3.0
Who provides power, water and the rest in Phoenixville, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Phoenixville.
Phoenixville has hotter summers than almost anywhere else in Pennsylvania, has less tooth loss than most of Pennsylvania and has seen reported crime fall by a fifth or more.
The median rent in Phoenixville is $1,735 a month. The typical Phoenixville home is worth about $527,000, up 2% in a year, 83% above the Pennsylvania typical home. 55% of Phoenixville households own their home.
| Phoenixville | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 55% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,735 a month | $1,114 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by Phoenixville Area SD. Three of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Renaissance Academy Charter School, with 1,199 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenixville Area MSLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 963 | B− |
| Renaissance Academy Charter SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 1,199 | C+ |
| Phoenixville Area HSTop results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,194 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
6.7 miles of trail in 15 parks and preserves. Phoenixville’s trail density is 1.8 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Reeves Park | 0.3 mi | 7 |
| 2. Reservoir Park | 0.1 mi | 17 |
| 3. Marosek Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Its widest gap with Pennsylvania is tooth loss: 9.2% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.5% statewide.
26% of adults have high blood pressure in Phoenixville. Phoenixville beats the Pennsylvania average on 13 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 8.1% of adults have diabetes in Phoenixville.
| Phoenixville | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 34% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.1% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | Phoenixville | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.2% | 14.5% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 2.4% | 3.7% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 74% | 79.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Reported crimes fell from 170 to 125 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. Violent crime is rare: 12 reported in 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 residents.
Pennsylvania has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Phoenixville sits closer to the middle.
| Phoenixville | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.6 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.4 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
27.8% of workers work from home, against 15.6% across Pennsylvania.
Most working residents leave Phoenixville for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Tredyffrin Township (8%), Philadelphia (8%) and Upper Merion Township (6%). Half commute less than 11 miles.
| Phoenixville | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 28% | 12% | 11% |
| Median household income | $102,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
July afternoons average 87.7°, the highest of 3,547 Pennsylvania places with climate records; January nights average 22.9°.
Among 1,037 Pennsylvania towns, just 3 have a higher July high than Phoenixville. Phoenixville has chilly winters and warm summers. About 8 inches of snow falls in a winter.
| Phoenixville | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 88°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| January low | 23°F | 21°F | 22°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 49 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Phoenixville.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
15 within 15 miles of the center of Phoenixville
About 6 of every 100 Phoenixville residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania.
16,440 counted in 2010 and 18,602 in 2020; an estimated 20,356 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 9.4% since 2020, after 13.2% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
4 places in Phoenixville on the National Register of Historic Places.
26 notable people were born in Phoenixville.
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the borough is situated at the junction of French Creek and the Schuylkill River. The population was 18,602 at the 2020 census. For much of its history, Phoenixville was known for being home to the Phoenix Iron Works. Following the company's closure in the 1980s and the resulting economic downturn, the town has been noted in recent years for the economic revitalization that has since taken place.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
4 towns share a border with Phoenixville.
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenixville | #267 | A | C− | A− | B+ | A |
| Upper Providence Township | #283 | A− | D | B+ | A | A |
| Schuylkill Township | #64 | A+ | C− | A+ | B+ | A |
| Mont Clare | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| East Pikeland Township | #119 | A | D | A | B+ | A |
Mont Clare isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Phoenixville with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
For most people who can afford it, yes. Phoenixville grades A overall, better than 85% of U.S. towns and #267 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades A for health, A− for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Yes, by national standards. Pennsylvania has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Phoenixville sits nearer the middle.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
26 notable people were born here, including Peter Farrelly and Jack Wall.
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