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Wilkes-Barre, PA
Full City Profile · Pennsylvania · Luzerne County County
2.9
/5.0
C+
Fair
44,217
Population
6,455/sq mi density
$47,970
Median Income
$25,581 per capita
$108,000
Home Value
$171,246 Zillow
$939
Median Rent
29.8% income on rent
51°F
Avg Temperature
275 sunny days/yr
594
Violent Crime/100K
2,092 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.9 / 5.0
$47,970 median income, 4.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$108,000 home value, $939/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
594 violent crimes/100K (56% above avg)
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
19.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Wilkes-Barre 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 Average | 51.3°F |
| 5% below US avg | |
| January Average | 28°F (-2°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 548 ft (167 m) |
| Area | 7.3 sq mi (18.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 6,455/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.2466°N, 75.8757°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Luzerne County County |
| Nearest Airport | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP) 10 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 91.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 67.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 78.1 / 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)
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1895 | HIGH BRIDGE, NJ | Earthquake | - | - | 105 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
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 |
Wilkes-Barre 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").