Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 567,887 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area

What is the median household income in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area?: The median household income in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area is $63,656 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area is 10.9% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area?: $176,500 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area is $963 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 26.8% of adults in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

567,887

Median Income

$63,656

Median Home Value

$176,500

Poverty Rate

10.9%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

5.3%

Median Age

42.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$10,165 (+19%) Home Value: +$37,100 (+26.6%) Poverty Rate: +0.3 pp (+2.8%) Bachelor's+: +2.0 pp (+8.1%) Unemployment: +0.1 pp (+1.9%)

Demographics

Total Population 567,887

Median Age 42.0

Female 50.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 12.7% White (non-Hisp.) 78.7% Black 4.2% Asian 1.8% Two or More 7.4% Other 5.4%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

0.7%

Chinese

0.2%

Filipino

0.2%

Korean

0.1%

Vietnamese

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Puerto Rican

3.7%

Mexican

2.0%

Cuban

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $63,656 ±$874

Per Capita Income $88,143

Median Family Income $82,233

Poverty Rate 10.9%

Child Poverty Rate 19.3%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 18.5%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 26.8%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

5.7%

$10–15k

4.8%

$15–25k

8.5%

$25–35k

8.7%

$35–50k

12.2%

$50–75k

17.2%

$75–100k

13.2%

$100–150k

16.4%

$150–200k

6.9%

$200k+

6.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 263,883

Owner-Occupied 67.3%

Renter-Occupied 32.7%

Vacancy Rate 11.9%

Median Home Value $176,500

Median Gross Rent $963

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 18.7%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 37.5%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

6.0%

$50–100k

15.2%

$100–200k

19.3%

$200–300k

23.6%

$300–500k

13.5%

$500k–$1M

3.9%

$1M+

0.7%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

11.7%

$500–1k

42.4%

$1–1.5k

34.2%

$1.5–2k

8.7%

$2–2.5k

1.6%

$2.5–3.5k

0.4%

$3.5k+

0.9%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

9.6%

1 vehicle

37.1%

2 vehicles

35.6%

17.7%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

65.1%

Single-fam. att.

10.6%

2–4 units

7.2%

5–19 units

2.7%

20+ units

4.0%

Mobile home

3.1%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

33.0%

1940–1969

8.7%

1970–1999

14.4%

2000–2009

6.2%

2010+

3.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 91.1%

Bachelor's or Higher 26.8%

Graduate Degree 10.4%

Some College / Associate 17.0%

Less Than High School 3.1%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 60.4%

Unemployment Rate 5.3%

Work from Home 9.3%

Self-Employed 4.4%

Government Workers 12.4%

Private For-Profit 83.0%

Industry

Edu/Health

25.5%

Retail

12.8%

Manufacturing

11.1%

Prof. Services

8.7%

Arts/Entmt.

8.1%

Transportation

7.7%

Finance

5.7%

Construction

5.6%

Public Admin

4.9%

Wholesale

3.2%

Information

1.5%

Agriculture

0.9%

Occupation

Management

35.9%

Sales

20.3%

Production

18.1%

Food Prep

17.5%

Construction

8.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 22.8 min

Drove Alone 76.1%

Carpool 9.9%

Public Transit 0.7%

Work from Home 9.3%

Walked 2.7%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 232,592

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 42.3%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 13.5%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.2%

5–9

5.6%

10–14

5.8%

15–19

6.3%

20–24

6.0%

25–34

12.3%

35–44

11.9%

45–54

12.5%

55–64

6.9%

65–74

7.1%

75–84

11.6%

85+

5.9%

Under 18: 20.3% Working age (18–64): 79.7% 65 and over: 20.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 7.3%

Naturalized Citizen 49.1%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 5.3%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

62.7%

Asia

21.5%

Europe

11.7%

Africa

2.9%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 6.8%

With a Disability 16.0%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 94.5%

Uninsured 5.5%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 86.6%

Has a Computer 91.6%

Same House 1 Year Ago 88.3%

Moved from Abroad 0.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023