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Plains, PA

Full City Profile · Pennsylvania · Luzerne County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
4,369 Population 3,413/sq mi density
$65,417 Median Income $33,793 per capita
$141,800 Home Value $215,918 Zillow
$950 Median Rent 27.2% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
48 Violent Crime/100K 1,346 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$65,417 median income, 4.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$141,800 home value, $950/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
48 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
26.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Plains experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 38.7 inches. The area receives 45.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

28°F Jan (-2°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average51.3°F
5% below US avg
January Average28°F (-2°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation658 ft (201 m)
Area1.3 sq mi (3.3 km²)
Population Density3,413/sq mi
Coordinates41.2758°N, 75.8519°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyLuzerne County County
Nearest AirportWilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP)
8 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 38.7"
2% above US avg
Snowfall 45.1"
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.33"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.44"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score91.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability67.8 / 100
Community Resilience78.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

23 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Jun 10, 2025.

Apr 5, 2024 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake M4.8 112 km
Jan 16, 1994 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.6 106 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.2 106 km
Apr 5, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M3.7 113 km
Aug 26, 2003 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey M3.1 97 km
Nov 14, 1997 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania M3.0 130 km
Feb 3, 2009 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey M3.0 120 km
Apr 27, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.9 113 km
May 24, 2024 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey M2.9 111 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M2.9 107 km
Jun 10, 2025 10 km NW of Forksville, Pennsylvania M2.8 75 km
May 10, 1993 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania M2.8 104 km
Mar 11, 1995 0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania M2.7 139 km
Jan 25, 2015 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania M2.6 143 km
Apr 5, 2024 6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey M2.6 112 km
Oct 28, 1996 2 km W of Reinholds, Pennsylvania M2.6 115 km
Jan 18, 1994 3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania M2.6 124 km
Apr 10, 2024 5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.6 115 km
May 1, 2024 1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.6 116 km
Aug 14, 2015 3 km SE of Mendham, New Jersey M2.6 122 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Gloria (1985, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1985 Gloria Category 1 227 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

247 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 3 fatalities, 93 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 2, 1998 EF3 42 km 2
May 31, 1998 EF3 63 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF3 92 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF3 89 km 0
May 2, 1983 EF3 98 km 0
Jul 26, 1981 EF3 61 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF3 65 km 0
Apr 22, 2023 EF2 97 km 0
Apr 14, 2019 EF2 47 km 0
Jun 13, 2018 EF2 85 km 0
Jun 13, 2018 EF2 4 km 0
Feb 25, 2017 EF2 8 km 0
Jul 8, 2014 EF2 61 km 0
Jul 23, 2010 EF2 59 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 63 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 99 km 0
Dec 1, 2006 EF2 29 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF2 55 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF2 58 km 0
Nov 8, 1996 EF2 59 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1895 HIGH BRIDGE, NJ Earthquake 106 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

8 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: 16 MILE (7,896 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 16 MILE 7,896 59 km
2009 PENOBSCOT 2,091 9 km
2004 CRYSTAL LAKE 1,838 13 km
2020 SEVEN PINES 790 46 km
2015 RAZOR FIRE 728 57 km
2015 PIPELINE 1 666 22 km
2016 BEAR TOWN 649 54 km
1999 WORTHINGTO 514 70 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 28°F (-2°C) 2.5 in
February 26°F (-3°C) 2.4 in Coldest, Driest
March 35°F (2°C) 2.9 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.4 in
May 57°F (14°C) 4.0 in
June 66°F (19°C) 4.3 in Wettest
July 74°F (23°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 69°F (21°C) 3.8 in
September 62°F (17°C) 3.7 in
October 51°F (11°C) 3.1 in
November 41°F (5°C) 3.4 in
December 31°F (-1°C) 2.9 in

Plains has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 26°F in February to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.5 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (2.4").

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