What are the schools like in Kingston, PA?

Kingston is served primarily by Wyoming Valley West SD. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.6:1.

What is the median household income in Kingston?

The median household income in Kingston, PA is $52,253 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.

What is the weather like in Kingston, PA?

Kingston has an average high temperature of 35.7°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 45.1 inches.

Kingston, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Kingston, PA affordable or expensive?

Kingston's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kingston is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $146,700 and the median rent is $927 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Kingston, PA?

Kingston has a violent crime rate of 140.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1454.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kingston, PA a Good Place to Live?

Kingston is a small city of 13,317 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $52,253 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Kingston 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 Kingston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kingston 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: 93.0

Kingston's overall cost of living index is 93.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kingston costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kingston, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$146,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$927	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	46.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,253	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kingston's violent crime rate is 140.5 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

140.5 /100k

Property Crime

1454.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kingston is served primarily by Wyoming Valley West SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kingston, PA	National Avg
School District	Wyoming Valley West SD	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kingston sees average highs of 35.7°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 45.4 inches of annual precipitation and 45.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kingston, PA
Average High — January	35.7°F
Average High — July	84.6°F
Annual Precipitation	45.4"
Annual Snowfall	45.1"

Demographics

Metric	Kingston, PA	National Avg
Population	13,317	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	21.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pringle, PA 1 mi Edwardsville, PA 1 mi Forty Fort, PA 1 mi Wilkes-Barre, PA 1 mi Luzerne, PA 2 mi

Kingston vs Other Cities

Kingston, PA vs Pringle, PA Kingston, PA vs Edwardsville, PA Kingston, PA vs Forty Fort, PA Kingston, PA vs Wilkes-Barre, PA Kingston, PA vs Luzerne, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kingston, PA affordable or expensive?

Kingston's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kingston roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $146,700 and median rent is $927/month.

What is the crime rate in Kingston, PA?

Kingston's violent crime rate is 140.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1454.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kingston?

Public schools in Kingston are operated by Wyoming Valley West SD. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kingston, PA a good place to live?

Kingston, PA has a population of 13,317, a median household income of $52,253, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Kingston?

Kingston averages 35.7°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.4 inches with about 45.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Kingston?

The population of Kingston, Pennsylvania is 13,317 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kingston?

Key numbers for living in Kingston: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $146,700, median household income $52,253, 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 Kingston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.