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Living in
Mountain Top.
Mountain Top is an unincorporated community in Luzerne County, PA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Mountain Top
Mountain Top is a community of 11,856 people in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $109,535, median rent runs about $843 per month, and median home values are around $297,700. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Mountain Top at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Foreign-Born
4.2%
Broadband Internet
93.5%
of households
Population Growth
+3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Mountain Top: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mountain Top, the largest foreign-born group is from India (39.8%), and 3.0% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
25.0%
of residents
65 and Older
17.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.5%
of households
Married Couples
60.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
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 30% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Mountain Top
In Mountain Top, rent runs 30% below the PA average, and home values are 17% above the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
18.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
4.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,662
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
89.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $332,670 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Mountain Top
Unemployment in Luzerne County, which includes Mountain Top, is 1 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Mountain Top: Luzerne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Luzerne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Mountain Top is about 4% of Luzerne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Mountain Top Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.5 min avg
How Mountain Top residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mountain Top, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)
Regional airport · few flights222k passengers boarded in 2025
- 94 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M 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 90% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Wright Township Police Department, which covers Mountain Top, runs 90% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
34
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
391.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Wright Township Police Department (township-wide rate)
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 Mountain Top, 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
Mountain Top 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 26 miles from Mountain Top) 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 (26 mi away)
Climate77°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mountain Top has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.8"
Annual Snowfall
35.6"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
164
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
144
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 3.13" |
| Feb | 35°F | 17°F | 2.60" |
| Mar | 43°F | 24°F | 3.65" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 4.06" |
| May | 67°F | 45°F | 4.17" |
| Jun | 74°F | 54°F | 4.81" |
| Jul | 79°F | 58°F | 4.49" |
| Aug | 77°F | 56°F | 4.55" |
| Sep | 71°F | 49°F | 5.24" |
| Oct | 59°F | 38°F | 4.69" |
| Nov | 47°F | 30°F | 3.61" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 3.84" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mountain Top
Uninsured
1.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Mountain Top's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 8.6 mi away · Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-barre General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Wilkes-Barre
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Wilkes Barre
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mountain Top
Mountain Top's student/teacher ratio is 19.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 45.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Mountain Top (within 15 miles)
Luzerne County Community College
6.1 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, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mountain Top
Mountain Top has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Steamtown National Historic Site (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Steamtown National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
50 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
57 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
58 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
65 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
70 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
75 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mountain Top
Marian Sutherland Kirby Lib
35 Kirby Avenue, Mountaintop
Cities Near Mountain Top
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mountain Top?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mountain Top FAQ
Is Mountain Top, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Mountain Top's median rent is $849/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $109,535/year. Median home value is $297,700.
Is Mountain Top, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Mountain Top is policed by the Wright Township Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 34 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 391 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania?⌄
Luzerne County, which includes Mountain Top, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Mountain Top is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $849/month and median household income is $109,535/year. The median home value is $297,700. About 19% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Mountain Top is 27 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