At a Glance
Median Income
$47,970
$25,581 per capita
Home Value
$108,000
Zillow: $171,246
Median Rent
$939/mo
29.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
594/100K
2,092/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
19.4%
85.0% high school+
Unemployment
4.9%
17.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.2%
26.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Wilkes-Barre Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Wilkes-Barre's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Wilkes-Barre a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Wilkes-Barre residents earn a median household income of $47,970 , which is 36% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $25,581. The unemployment rate stands at 4.9% (36% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 17.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 7,474 business establishments, including 769 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Wilkes-Barre is $108,000 , 62% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $171,246. Median rent is $939/month, with 29.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1944.
Safety & Crime
Wilkes-Barre reports 594 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 56% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,092/100K. The murder rate is 7.4/100K.
Education
19.4% of adults in Wilkes-Barre hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(42% below the national average).
85.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Wilkes-Barre has 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. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population44,217
Median Age35.3 yrs
Density6,455/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans5.7%
Economy
C+
Median Income$47,970
Per Capita$25,581
Unemployment4.9%
Poverty17.4%
County GDP$20,580M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,075
Housing
A+
Home Value$108,000
Rent$939
Ownership48.9%
Zillow$171,246
Housing Units19,909
Rent Burden29.8%
Crime
F
Violent594/100K
Property2,092/100K
Murder7.4/100K
Assault361/100K
Burglary476/100K
Health
Obesity36.2%
Diabetes10.6%
Smoking26.9%
Heart Disease6.9%
Premature Death10,192/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain38.7 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation548 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+19.4%
High School+85.0%
Graduate+6.1%
School Score5.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 59% / D 40%
Commute20 min
Broadband84.7%
Internet Speed180 Mbps
EV Stations9
Libraries16
Did You Know?
Wilkes-Barre was founded in 1769.
The median home in Wilkes-Barre was built in 1944.
The nearest airport is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (10 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.451 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
15.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 180 Mbps.
There are 769 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 30 fatal vehicle crashes.
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