2 census tracts · pop 6,292 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 8/10
· range 6.4–8
University City spans 2 census tracts of Philadelphia, PA, population 6,292. That produces an Eviction Risk Score of 8/10, High tier. Severe burden reaches 41%. A tenant at that level absorbs no shock: one cut shift or one repair bill converts directly into arrears.
Set annual rent against average household income of $31,509 and the ratio lands at 113%, above the conventional 30% ceiling. Cost burden runs 57% against 31.4% citywide, putting University City 25.5% over its own city.
Average gross rent is $2,967, 112% above the Philadelphia average of $1,397. The dominant input is economic stress at 10/10.
The voucher gap is 65.1%: households holding assistance that local rents will not absorb, which shows up as churn rather than arrears. The poverty rate is 47%, which shows up in this model as reduced rent-recovery odds after a judgment. Sitting well above the midpoint is supply constraint at 10/10.
98% of occupied units are rented, so comparables are plentiful and vacancy risk is low, but a mispriced renewal loses the tenant to a building two streets over. Scores across the 2 constituent tracts range from 6.4 to 8. A 1.6-point internal spread means block-level underwriting beats area-level here.
On the high side is eviction-process difficulty at 7.5/10. That places it #1 of 152 neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
For a specific building, read the per-tract breakdown below rather than the 8 headline, because the internal range is too wide to average safely. The number is rebuilt whenever its ACS, court-record, or statutory inputs change.
Risk score
8
High
2 tracts · population-weighted
University City vs PhiladelphiaHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority65%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport97%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab
Court-record eviction history in University City
Aggregated across 0 validated constituent tracts. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.
Pandemic-era tracking (2020–2021)
88Total filings 2020-21
1.1Avg monthly observed
1.7Pre-pandemic baseline
0.65×Ratio to baseline
Pandemic filings ran far below baseline. Tracked under Eviction Lab Eviction Tracking System (Palm Beach).
Frequently asked
About University City
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for University City?
University City scores 8/10 (High tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does University City compare to Philadelphia overall?
University City scores 1.4 points higher than Philadelphia overall (6.6/10). Renters spend 57% of income on rent vs 31% citywide. Average rent: $2,967 vs $1,397.
Q3
What is the average rent in University City?
Average gross rent in University City is $2,967/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 57% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of University City residents are renters?
98% of University City households are renter-occupied (vs 48% in Philadelphia). The neighborhood has 6,292 residents.
Q5
Is University City a high social-vulnerability area?
University City sits in the 54th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
Which tracts in University City have the highest eviction risk?
The highest-risk constituent tract in University City is census tract 42101036902 (score 8/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 6.4 to 8, a spread of 1.6 points.
Q7
How safe is University City for landlords?
University City carries a high-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (8/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Philadelphia as a whole (6.6/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.
Q8
What is the demographic breakdown of University City?
University City has 6,275 residents. Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (52.3%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (21.1%), Black (non-Hispanic) (15.8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
