Report on Grays Ferry, Philadelphia

Analysis conducted in R Studio and Excel. Visualizations created using ArcGIS Pro and Adobe Illustrator

Grays Ferry is a neighborhood situated in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is located on the East bank of the Schuylkill River, Southwest of Centre City, and is home to 1,300 people. This study highlights the changes in socioeconomics, demographics, and housing in Grays Ferry and Philadelphia County between 2012 and 2022, and sheds light on the impact these changes have on residents, particularly lower-income families.

Figure 1: Grays Ferry

Figure 2: Grays Ferry in context of Philadelphia County

Socioeconomics in Grays Ferry in 2012 - 2022

Over the past decade, Grays Ferry has experienced notable improvements in income and employment levels. The neighborhood's unemployment rate decreased from 24% in 2012 to 17% in 2022, representing a 30% overall decrease. This trend reflects a strengthening local job market and improved economic conditions for residents.

A key driver of this improvement appears to be the shift in occupation in the neighborhood. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of Grays Ferry residents employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations grew by 125%.

Figure 3: Employment and Occupation in Grays Ferry. Data from the United States Census Bureau

Median Household income in Grays Ferry and Philadelphia in 2012 and 2022 with adjusted inflation. Calculated using data from data.census.gov DP03

Housing

Similar to the percentage cost of mortgage, the data shows that Grays Ferry residents are also spending a lower proportion of their income on their rent. An increase of 155.8% households spending less than 15% of their income on rent indicates that residents are benefiting from more affordable housing options. The sharp decrease in the cost of rent for households spending 30% -35% (Down by 64.2% in 2022) and 35% or more (down by 13.2% in 2022) indicates that fewer residents are experiencing a heavy financial burden in 2022 compared to 2012.

Figure 4: Percent of income spent on rent in Grays Ferry in 2012 and 2022. Calculated with data from data.census.gov DP04

Sources

https://data.census.gov/advanced

https://schuylkillcorps.org/exhibits/show/grays-ferry-oral-histories/a-brief-history-of-grays-ferry

Ershkowitz, Herbert. “World War II.” The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011

Walter Licht, Mark Frazier Lloyd, J.M. Duffin, & Mary D. McConaghy. Bridging the Schuylkill: Early- to Mid-19th Century https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/stories/bridging-schuylkill-early-mid-19th-century

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