The Town FilesCarbondale, Pennsylvania
City in Lackawanna County · population 8,828 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,200
- Household income
- $47,716
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 42.3
Carbondale is a city of 8,828 people in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $132,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Carbondale ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carbondale is worth $132,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $47,716, which is more affordable than 53% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $660 a month. 51.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carbondale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $660 | $996 |
| Median household income | $47,716 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carbondale
| People | Carbondale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Carbondale
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carbondale since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 23, 2010 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Lackawanna County since 1996
Lackawanna County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County had 98,108 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Carbondale itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Carbondale
2 public schools with 1,492 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale El Sch | PK-6 | 752 | 13.0 |
| Carbondale Area JSHS | 7-12 | 740 | 9.3 |
Towns near Carbondale
- Archbald, PA5.1 mi · 7,297 people · home $217,000
- Canaan, PA6.3 mi · 3,610 people · home $276,300
- Scott, PA6.6 mi · 4,629 people · home $246,700
- Blakely, PA7.7 mi · 6,657 people · home $198,300
- Jefferson, PA8.4 mi · 3,765 people · home $274,000
- Jessup, PA8.4 mi · 4,520 people · home $169,300
- Olyphant, PA9.1 mi · 5,383 people · home $160,900
- Dickson City, PA9.8 mi · 6,038 people · home $192,300
Carbondale questions
Is Carbondale, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carbondale scores better for retirees than 64% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 16%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Carbondale?
The median owner-occupied home in Carbondale is valued at $132,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,716, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $660 a month.
What is the weather like in Carbondale?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 59.2 inches of snow.
Does Carbondale get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carbondale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 23, 2010. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)