Wayne County courthouse mod · Andrew Rodland / CC BY-SA 3.0Honesdale-1 · Wikimedia Commons / Public domainMain St Honesdale Midtown 2016-02-23 · DWilliamsFrey / CC BY-SA 4.01st Presbyterian Honsdale PA · Smallbones / CC0
Honesdale is a small town of 4,469 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $34,700
and a 9.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Honesdale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Honesdale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Honesdale city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.9
Honesdale's overall cost of living index is 94.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Honesdale costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Honesdale, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$143,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$996
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,700
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Honesdale's violent crime rate is 225.9 per 100,000 residents
— 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
225.9 /100k
Property Crime
745.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Honesdale is served primarily by Wayne Highlands SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Honesdale, PA
National Avg
School District
Wayne Highlands SD
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Honesdale sees average highs of 33.0°F in January
and 81.3°F in July,
with 47.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 47.1 inches of snow per year.
Honesdale's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Honesdale roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $143,000 and median rent is $996/month.
Honesdale's violent crime rate is 225.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 745.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Honesdale are operated by Wayne Highlands SD.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Honesdale, PA has a population of 4,469, a median household income of $34,700, and an unemployment rate of 9.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Honesdale averages 33.0°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.5 inches
with about 47.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Honesdale, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 18431.
The population of Honesdale, Pennsylvania is 4,469 with a median age of 42.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Honesdale: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $143,000, median household income $34,700, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Honesdale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
