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Moving Guides/Scranton--Wilkes-Barre

Moving to Scranton--Wilkes-Barre

What you need to know before relocating to Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Scranton--Wilkes-Barre a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,057/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($189,500) are well below the us median; violent crime rate (266/100k) is well below the national average.

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre at a Glance

Population
569K
Median Income
$58,834
Median Rent
$1,057/mo
Median Home Price
$189,500
Unemployment
4.4%
Avg Commute
233933 min

Cost of Living in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre

The median rent in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre is $1,057/month, while the median home value is $189,500. With a median household income of $58,834, residents spend roughly 22% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
25% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
38% below

Job Market

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a median household income of $58,834, which is 21% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 4.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre

The violent crime rate in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre is 266 per 100,000 residents, which is 30% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1579 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $21,441/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1.

38% of Pennsylvania adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Pennsylvania has 328 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.9% uninsured rate, and 3.0 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Pennsylvania is 77.6 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre

+Pros

  • Rent ($1,057/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($189,500) are well below the US median
  • Violent crime rate (266/100k) is well below the national average
  • High school graduation rate of 92%
  • Low uninsured rate (5.9%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Median household income ($58,834) trails the national median
  • Longer-than-average commute (233933 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Scranton--Wilkes-Barre a good place to live?

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,057/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($189,500) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?

The median rent in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre is $1,057/month and the median home value is $189,500. The median household income is $58,834. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Scranton--Wilkes-Barre safe?

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a violent crime rate of 266 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $58,834.

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