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Living in
Kingston.
About
Life in Kingston
Kingston is a community of 13,333 people in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $55,347, median rent runs about $1,038 per month, and median home values are around $172,900. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Kingston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.3%
Foreign-Born
7.0%
Broadband Internet
90.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.0% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Kingston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kingston, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (36.6%), and 5.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
18.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.8%
of households
Married Couples
29.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.22
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Kingston
In Kingston, rent runs 14% below the PA average, and home values are 32% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,628
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $235,022 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Kingston
Unemployment in Luzerne County, which includes Kingston, is 1 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Kingston: Luzerne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Luzerne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Kingston is about 4% of Luzerne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Kingston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.8 min avg
How Kingston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kingston, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)
Regional airport · few flights222k passengers boarded in 2025
- 98 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 73% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kingston runs 73% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
90.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,435
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kingston Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Luzerne County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Luzerne County, which includes Kingston, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Winter Weather | $856,500 |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $161,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.5M |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,500 |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $234,450 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $165,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Luzerne County, county-wide
Kingston is about 4% of Luzerne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lackawanna County, PA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Kingston) is typically good — 270 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
270
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Lackawanna County, PA (19 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kingston has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.4"
Annual Snowfall
45.1"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
139
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 20°F | 2.59" |
| Feb | 39°F | 22°F | 2.07" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 2.77" |
| Apr | 61°F | 39°F | 3.26" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 3.26" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 3.80" |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 3.61" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.85" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.15" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.71" |
| Nov | 51°F | 34°F | 2.85" |
| Dec | 40°F | 26°F | 2.80" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kingston
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kingston's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Wilkes-barre General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.1 mi away · Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Wilkes-Barre
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Wilkes Barre
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kingston
Kingston's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Kingston (within 15 miles)
Luzerne County Community College
7.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,317 students · in-state tuition $7,350 · 24% graduate · median earnings $45,027 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,985 students · in-state tuition $44,742 · 60% graduate · median earnings $75,038 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,484 students · in-state tuition $45,100 · 60% graduate · median earnings $66,035 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Steamtown National Historic Site, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kingston
Kingston has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Steamtown National Historic Site (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Steamtown National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
50 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
52 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
66 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
73 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
76 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kingston
Hoyt Library
284 Wyoming Ave, Kingston
Cities Near Kingston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kingston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kingston FAQ
Is Kingston, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Kingston's median rent is $1,038/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,347/year. Median home value is $172,900.
Is Kingston, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Kingston's violent crime rate was 90 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1435 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kingston, Pennsylvania?⌄
Luzerne County, which includes Kingston, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kingston, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Kingston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,038/month and median household income is $55,347/year. The median home value is $172,900. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kingston, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Kingston is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from