© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Wilkes-Barre.
About
Life in Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre offers genuine affordability—median home values around $117,000 and rents under $950 monthly—which is meaningful if you're priced out of coastal cities. The job market is workable with 5.2% unemployment and a 20-minute average commute, though the local economy is still rebuilding from its coal-mining past rather than booming. You'll find a community that's solidly middle-class and family-oriented, with nearly 60% of residents identifying as religious (predominantly Catholic) and a median age around 36.
Wilkes-Barre at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.1%
Foreign-Born
16.9%
Broadband Internet
85.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.9% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Wilkes-Barre: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wilkes-Barre, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (49.8%), and 24.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
15.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.7%
of households
Married Couples
31.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 22% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Wilkes-Barre
In Wilkes-Barre, rent runs 22% below the PA average, and home values are 54% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,083
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1943
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $185,887 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Wilkes-Barre
Unemployment in Wilkes-Barre is 0.9 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Wilkes-Barre Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.7 min avg
How Wilkes-Barre residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wilkes-Barre, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 81% 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
- 97 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 26% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wilkes-Barre runs 26% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
413.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,532.7
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre, 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
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 Wilkes-Barre) 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
Wilkes-Barre 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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
9.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Wilkes-barre General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Wilkes Barre
Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Northeast
Psychiatric · 12.9 mi away · Moosic
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre's student/teacher ratio is 18.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 20.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Wilkes-Barre
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)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Luzerne County Community College
7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,317 students · in-state tuition $7,350 · 24% graduate · median earnings $45,027 (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 Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre 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
49 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
52 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
65 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
75 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wilkes-Barre
Osterhout Free Library
71 South Franklin St, Wilkes-Barre
North Branch Library
28 Oliver St, Wilkes-Barre
South Branch Library
2 Airy St., Wilkes-Barre
Cities Near Wilkes-Barre
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wilkes-Barre?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wilkes-Barre FAQ
Is Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Wilkes-Barre's median rent is $946/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,515/year. Median home value is $117,200.
Is Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Wilkes-Barre's violent crime rate was 413 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1533 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?⌄
Wilkes-Barre has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Wilkes-Barre is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $946/month and median household income is $48,515/year. The median home value is $117,200. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Wilkes-Barre is 21 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