The Town FilesWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
City in Luzerne County · population 44,328 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,200
- Household income
- $48,515
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 34.7
Wilkes-Barre is a city of 44,328 people in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $117,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre is worth $117,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $48,515, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $946 a month. 51.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilkes-Barre | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $946 | $996 |
| Median household income | $48,515 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1943 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Wilkes-Barre
| People | Wilkes-Barre | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Wilkes-Barre
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilkes-Barre since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 13, 2018 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Luzerne County since 1996
Luzerne County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Luzerne County
Luzerne County had 145,190 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,901 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Wilkes-Barre itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Wilkes-Barre
5 public schools with 3,113 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| G A R MS | 6-8 | 1,066 | 20.1 |
| Heights/Murray El Sch | K-5 | 843 | 18.7 |
| Daniel J Flood El Sch | K-5 | 620 | 16.3 |
| Dodson El Sch | K-5 | 483 | 19.3 |
| Wolfpack Early Learning Academy | PK-PK | 101 | 16.8 |
Towns near Wilkes-Barre
- Wilkes-Barre, PA1.2 mi · 3,213 people · home $115,700
- Kingston, PA1.4 mi · 13,349 people · home $172,900
- Edwardsville, PA2.0 mi · 4,929 people · home $123,200
- Forty Fort, PA2.3 mi · 4,239 people · home $173,000
- Plains, PA2.4 mi · 4,293 people · home $155,100
- Ashley, PA2.6 mi · 2,596 people · home $97,200
- Luzerne, PA3.0 mi · 2,711 people · home $113,900
- Larksville, PA3.1 mi · 4,225 people · home $146,300
Wilkes-Barre questions
Is Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilkes-Barre scores better for retirees than 3% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 1%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Wilkes-Barre?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilkes-Barre is valued at $117,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,515, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $946 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilkes-Barre?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 42.6 inches of snow.
Does Wilkes-Barre get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilkes-Barre since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 13, 2018. 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)