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Living in
Nanticoke.
About
Life in Nanticoke
Nanticoke is a community of 10,610 people in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $57,462, median rent runs about $787 per month, and median home values are around $108,100. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Nanticoke at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.4%
Foreign-Born
4.3%
Broadband Internet
85.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.3% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Nanticoke: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Nanticoke, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (50.3%), and 8.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.8%
of households
Married Couples
35.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.38
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 34% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Nanticoke
In Nanticoke, rent runs 34% below the PA average, and home values are 58% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,775
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1946
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $174,087 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Nanticoke
Unemployment in Luzerne County, which includes Nanticoke, is 1 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Nanticoke: Luzerne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Luzerne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Nanticoke is about 3% of Luzerne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Nanticoke Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.4 min avg
How Nanticoke residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Nanticoke, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 78% 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
- 100 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 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Nanticoke runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
120.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,171.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Nanticoke 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 Nanticoke, 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
Nanticoke is about 3% of Luzerne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality24 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wyoming County, PA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 22 miles from Nanticoke) is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
24
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
46
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Wyoming County, PA (22 mi away)
Climate77°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Nanticoke 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
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
35.6"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
164
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
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 Nanticoke
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Nanticoke's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Wilkes-barre General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Wilkes-Barre
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.5 mi away · Wilkes Barre
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Nanticoke
Nanticoke's student/teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Nanticoke
Luzerne County Community College
Public · 2-year · 3,317 students · in-state tuition $7,350 · 24% graduate · median earnings $45,027 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
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 Nanticoke
Nanticoke 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
55 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
59 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
59 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
70 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
77 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
81 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Nanticoke
Mill Memorial Library
495 East Main St, Nanticoke
Cities Near Nanticoke
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Nanticoke?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Nanticoke FAQ
Is Nanticoke, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Nanticoke's median rent is $792/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,462/year. Median home value is $108,100.
Is Nanticoke, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Nanticoke's violent crime rate was 121 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 1171 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania?⌄
Luzerne County, which includes Nanticoke, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Nanticoke is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $792/month and median household income is $57,462/year. The median home value is $108,100. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Nanticoke is 21 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