As of the census of 2000, there were 14,788 people, 6,460 households, and 3,675 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,120.0 people per square mile (1,590.4/km²). There were 6,793 housing units at an average density of 1,892.6/sq mi (730.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.94% White, 7.66% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.
There were 6,460 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $54,424. Males had a median income of $40,319 versus $32,295 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,911. About 4.2% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Phoenixville is at the intersection of three state routes: 23, 29, and 113. Phoenixville is currently served by SEPTA's Route 99 bus, which connects with the R6 Regional rail line at the Norristown Transportation Center. Regular commuter trains last stopped at Phoenixville in 1981, when SEPTA ceased operating non-electrified commuter lines.
Interest to resume rail service was spurred by the Schuylkill Valley Metro (SVM) project, which was rejected by Federal Transit Administration in 2006. Another version of the project, called the Greenline, has since resurrected a truncated version of the SVM, utilizing the currently out-of-service Phoenixville Industrial track (owned by Norfolk Southern Railway). The effort to resume passenger train service has led to the creation of the group Citizens for the Train.