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Living in
Scranton.
About
Life in Scranton
Scranton offers an affordable Northeast option if you want city amenities without major metro prices—median home values around $158,100 and median rent at $1,048 make it genuinely accessible compared to surrounding regions. The job market is steady with 4.6% unemployment, and your commute will be short; the average is just 19.5 minutes. The city has real cultural bones: industrial heritage sites like Steamtown and the Iron Furnaces, a respected art and performing arts scene, and strong ethnic traditions—the St.
Scranton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.0%
Foreign-Born
12.6%
Broadband Internet
84.1%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.6% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Scranton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Scranton, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (16.7%), and 11.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.7%
of households
Married Couples
33.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
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 13% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Scranton
In Scranton, rent runs 13% below the PA average, and home values are 38% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,224
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
14.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $202,099 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in Scranton
Unemployment in Scranton is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Scranton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.3 min avg
How Scranton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Scranton, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)
Regional airport · few flights222k passengers boarded in 2025
- 92 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Scranton is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
327
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,321.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Scranton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lackawanna County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lackawanna County, which includes Scranton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Flash Flood | $160,500 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $209,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13.4M |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $214,250 |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60,000 |
| 2019 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $337,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $115,000 |
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
Lackawanna County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lackawanna County, which includes Scranton, 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
Lackawanna County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Scranton 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
38.7"
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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Scranton
Scranton has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Geisinger-community Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Regional Hospital of Scranton
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Northeast
Psychiatric · 3.2 mi away · Moosic
Lehigh Valley Hospital - Dickson City
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Dickson City
Clarks Summit State Hospital
Psychiatric · 6.5 mi away · Clarks Summit
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Scranton
Scranton's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
17
within city limits
Private Schools
13
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Scranton
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,554 students · in-state tuition $55,713 · 80% graduate · median earnings $85,590 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 1,947 students · in-state tuition $19,100 · 39% graduate · median earnings $44,828 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 590 students · in-state tuition $22,100 · 62% graduate · median earnings $55,317 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,784 students · in-state tuition $43,448 · 73% graduate · median earnings $59,635 (10 yrs after entry)
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
3.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 793 students · in-state tuition $15,240 · 35% graduate · median earnings $71,762 (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, 0 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Scranton
Scranton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Steamtown National Historic Site (0 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Steamtown National Historic Site
National Historic Site
0 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
37 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
42 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
74 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
78 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
80 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
83 mi awayPaterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Scranton
Scranton Public Library
500 Vine Street, Scranton
Lackawanna County Children`S Library
520 Vine St., Scranton
Nancy Kay Holmes Branch
1032 Green Ridge St, Scranton
Cities Near Scranton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Scranton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Scranton FAQ
Is Scranton, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Scranton's median rent is $1,048/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $50,739/year. Median home value is $158,100.
Is Scranton, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Scranton's violent crime rate was 327 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1321 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Scranton, Pennsylvania?⌄
Scranton has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Scranton, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Scranton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,048/month and median household income is $50,739/year. The median home value is $158,100. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Scranton, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Scranton is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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